Chapter 7
The amber light on the smart lock turned solid red, followed by the heavy, mechanical clunk of internal tumblers disengaging. The front door swung inward an inch, stopped instantly by the heavy security chain bolted from the inside. Through the narrow gap, a sliver of dark fabric and a gloved hand holding a signal-jamming device became visible.
Jin-woo moved with swift, silent grace, throwing his weight against the heavy wooden door to slam it shut against whoever was pushing from the exterior landing. The metal chain snapped taut with a sharp twang, holding the door firm, but the frame groaned under the pressure of professional hydraulic tools being applied outside.
“They’re using a pneumatic spreader,” Jin-woo grunted, bracing his shoulder against the door panel. His white-gloved hands gripped the edge of the wood frame for leverage. “Lin, help me wedge the teak sideboard across the foyer. It’s our only chance to buy time.”
Lin didn't hesitate. She left the evidence pouch securely zipped inside her deep coat pocket and grabbed the heavy wooden sideboard by its carved legs. Chen moved instantly to assist her, her initial hesitation gone, replaced by a cold, efficient focus. Together, the two women heaved the massive piece of furniture across the smooth oak floor, sliding it with a low screech until it slammed squarely against the interior of the front door.
“Brace the legs!” Lin instructed, dropping into a squat against the base of the sideboard. Chen immediately knelt beside her, pressing her shoulder against the teak wood, her white skirt hiked slightly to allow freedom of movement. Her face was calm, stripped of all pretense, revealing the steel core that had kept her alive this long.
Outside, the pneumatic tool hissed, a high-pressure whine that cut through the silence of the luxury apartment. The door groaned, the wooden frame splintering outward as the heavy metal bolts sheared through the drywall with a muffled crunch. Dust rained down from the ceiling molding where Jin-woo had extracted the ledger.
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“They’re breaking the frame,” Jin-woo said, his breathing even and controlled despite the physical exertion. He drew his sidearm with his left hand while keeping his right shoulder jammed against the top of the door. “When the latch gives, stay low. Do not engage unless they clear the threshold.”
The final bolt gave way with a violent snap. The door burst inward, slamming hard against the improvised barricade of the sideboard, sending a cloud of pulverized wood and paint chips into the foyer.
