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“Already existed. James hid one frame inside each prism and attached them to the five objects he had made for you.”
“Why blue glass?”
“It wasn’t ordinary glass. James cut the prisms from an old navigation lens recovered from a Sinclair ship.”
“The one in Hazel’s trunk?” I ask.
Thomas nods.
“He believed no one would understand the objects unless they knew your family history.”
“Simon understands enough,” Ben says through the radio.
On Hazel’s security feed, police search the apartment and hallway.
Marquez turns back to the operation.
“Did anyone see Simon leave?”
“Negative,” an officer answers. “We’re checking every floor.”
“Lock down the building,” Ben orders. “No one leaves without being identified.”
Marquez looks toward the monitor.
“I’m in command of the operation.”
“Then order it.”
She holds his gaze for a second.
“Lock down the building. Verify every resident, officer, firefighter and medical responder.”
Keating studies the live exterior feed.
“Why firefighters?”
“Simon created a reason for emergency personnel to enter,” Ben says. “Two officers are down. He expects confusion.”
An ambulance arrives outside Hazel’s building.
Two paramedics climb out.
They hurry toward the entrance carrying medical bags and a folded stretcher.
“Who requested medical assistance?” Ben asks.
“The responding officers,” Marquez answers.
“Confirm the unit.”
Marquez contacts dispatch.
Her face changes.
“That ambulance wasn’t sent by the city.”
The false paramedics enter the lobby.
