Contents
Chapter 43
Overview
Ace and Romeo panic outside Theo Wynn’s sealed panic room while Keres is trapped inside. After briefly considering improvised explosives, Ace calls Max and learns panic rooms have a fail-safe. Abandoning the bomb idea, they decide to wake and interrogate the bodyguard to locate the release mechanism.
Summary
Ace, overwhelmed by fear for Keres, and Romeo stand outside Theo Wynn’s hidden panic room, hearing struggles inside. They debate options, with Romeo proposing improvised explosives from pantry supplies while Ace searches the wooden paneling for a way in.
Realizing time is critical, Ace calls Max, who explains panic rooms are self-sufficient but include an emergency fail-safe. This revelation redirects their focus from brute force to finding whoever knows the mechanism.
Ace identifies the unconscious bodyguard as their best lead. Abandoning the DIY bomb plan, Ace drags the bodyguard to a chair, and he and Romeo prepare to wake and interrogate him to discover the fail-safe and free Keres.
Who Appears
- AceLeads rescue attempt; calls Max, learns about a fail-safe, and decides to interrogate the bodyguard.
- Romeo MorettiPanicked but proactive; gathers cleaning supplies for a bomb before agreeing to question the bodyguard.
- KeresTrapped inside Theo Wynn’s panic room; her peril drives Ace and Romeo’s urgent decisions.
- Max MorettiAdvises by phone; explains panic rooms are self-sufficient but have an emergency fail-safe.
- BodyguardUnconscious guard at Theo’s house; targeted for interrogation to reveal the panic room’s fail-safe.