Chapter 8 - Crawling Through the Vents
Clara and Liam maneuvered through the narrow, galvanized steel ventilation ducts of the Sterling Estate, their movements muffled by the hum of the central air system. The metal was cold against Liam's forearms as he led the way, flashlight beam cutting through the swirling dust motes. Every inch of movement strained his battered muscles, but sheer determination kept him moving forward.
"We're directly above the east wing now," Liam whispered back over his shoulder, peering down through a slotted floor register into the master bedroom. Below them, expensive silk sheets covered an oversized king bed, and the room was bathed in the soft glow of designer bedside lamps.
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Clara crawled carefully behind him, wincing as a sharp cramp clutched her lower abdomen. She took a steadying breath, refusing to let her body fail her now. "We need to get to Richard's study," she whispered hoarsely. "Richard keeps the master server decryption keys in his desk safe. If we can broadcast Victoria's confession on the estate's internal network, everyone will know the truth."
Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed in the hallway outside the master bedroom below. Voices grew louder as someone approached the door. Liam and Clara froze instantly, holding their breath in the cramped darkness of the metal ductwork as the handle turned and heavy boots clicked across the hardwood floor.
