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"Tai Shan…Tai Shan…"

He sat up straighter with a wince of protest fronized the name from the zoo’s brochure Tai Shan was the panda cub born to Mei Xiang a few suht

The crowd jostled for a better view More people gathered Children were lifted to parents’ shoulders Ca at the tourists’ ht of Sasha in the crush of the crowd He knew she didn’t like to be touched

He stepped across the ay and pushed into the pack of people The park would be closing in the next few o

He reached the here Sasha had been standing

She wasn’t there

With his heart thudding, he searched the stretch of walls to either side No sign of her ebony hair and red ribbons He stuh the crowd Grunted protests e A caainst the paverabbed his shoulder He was yanked around

"Mister, you’d better have a goddaood reason--"

Yuri shook free His eyes, bright with true panic, randdaughter"

Anger melted to concern

With mostly parents in attendance, word spread quickly It was every mother and father’s worst fear Questions peppered hi? Others offered words of support, pro that she’d be found

Yuri barely heard the heart He should have never left her side, never sat down

The crowd thinned around hi views in all directions

Yuri turned a full circle He searched, but he knew the truth

Sasha was gone

4

Septeton, DC

"Door!" Kowalski yelled frolanced behind hihter and revealed a small doorway, hidden two steps off the dark tunnel Gray had rushed past it, too focused on the roof, searching for a street exit from the service tunnels

Behind the out as the trackers found their trail again Gray had crisscrossed a to lose theround

Kowalski reached to the door and fought the handle "Locked" He punched theup to his side, Gray noted an electronic key-lock below the handle The lighter’s flan stenciled in Art Deco letters:

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY

The door was a subterranean entrance to another of the Smithsonian Institution’s museums Closest to the door, Elizabeth swiped her museum security card, but the lock reed the handle and shook his head

"My card’s only good for the natural history museum," Elizabeth said "But I hoped--"

A fierce bark drew their attention around The bobbling glow of flashlights lit up the far end of the tunnel

"Better move it," Kowalski said and stepped away fro sparked off thewhere Kowalski had stood a second before The round ricocheted off the door and spun across the ce blue sparks of electricity

Kowalski danced away fronized the payload: a Taser XREP Fired froe, the weapon shot out a self-contained, wireless dart that packed a shocking neuroorilla

"HOMELAND SECURITY! HALT OR WE’LL FIRE AGAIN!"

"Now they warn us," Kowalski said and lifted his arms above his head

Half hidden behind his partner’s bulk, Gray twisted around and swiped his black Sight flicked into existence alongside the lock

Thank God

"HANDS ON YOUR HEADS GET ON YOUR KNEES!"

Gray shoved the handle, and the door cracked open It was dark beyond Reaching behind hirabbed Elizabeth’s elbow She flinched, then saw the half-open door She, in turn, reached out and grabbed the back of Kowalski’s belt He had his hands on his head and had been bending down to kneel

He glanced back to them