Chapter 4
Back in the ballroom, the atmosphere had transformed from anxious curiosity to a thick, suffocating dread. Word had trickled through the crowd that a security threat was active, though the specifics were being tightly controlled by Jax’s team. Whispers buzzed like angry hornets near the crystal pillars. In the center of the room, standing beside her mother in her immaculate cream-colored dress, little Lily remained a pocket of serene calm. She was examining the intricate lace pattern on her sleeve, seemingly oblivious to the armed guards stationed at every exit.
Jax walked back out from the AV control booth, his strides long and purposeful. He bypassed the terrified adults and knelt directly in front of Lily once more. The little girl looked up, her big dark eyes reflecting the warm glow of the chandeliers without a hint of fear.
"Lily," Jax said gently, softening the fierce edge in his voice. "You have incredible eyes. Most adults walked right past that box and saw nothing at all."
"My daddy always says you have to look past the pretty paper to see what's inside," Lily replied softly, offering a small, polite smile.
"Your daddy is a very smart man," Jax said, holding her gaze. "Can you tell me anything else about the man who brought the box? Did he have a hat on? Did he say anything?"
Lily tilted her head to the side, her dark brown hair in its high bun shifting slightly. She tapped her chin with a delicate finger, deep in thought.
"He smelled like peppermint," Lily said after a small pause. "And he had a strange blue mark on his hand, right here." She pointed to the back of her own small hand, near the thumb.
Jax’s mind raced. A peppermint scent—unusual for a maintenance worker, highly specific for someone trying to mask the chemical odor of explosives or high-grade electronics. And a blue mark. That was not a tattoo. That was a chemical burn or a dye stain commonly used in high-security manufacturing facilities, specifically those producing military-grade circuit boards.
"Did he look at you when he put the box down, Lily?" Jax asked, keeping his tone light to avoid alarming her further.
"He looked at me," Lily said, her voice dropping slightly as a shadow of seriousness crossed her young face. "And he whispered something. But I didn't understand the words."
"What did it sound like, sweetie?"
"It sounded like counting," Lily whispered. "Like he was saying numbers in another language."
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Jax stood up slowly. The blood rushed in his ears. A countdown. The small black box inside the silver package wasn't just a relay; it was an active timer. He turned his head and signaled to his lead tactical officer across the room, giving a sharp, subtle hand gesture that meant one thing: We are out of time.
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