Chapter One: The Fifty-Million-Euro Scar

“Mr. Lin?” It was the guard from the corridor. “Open the door. Doctor Fischer has misplaced something.” Lin surveyed the room. There was only one exit, the ventilation duct was too narrow, and beyond the window was the concrete wall of level minus two. He pushed the wafer beneath the insole of his shoe and dropped the bloody tissue into a bucket of disinfectant. The handle turned a second time. “Coming,” Lin said. As he lifted the bucket, the tactical terminal rebooted by itself. The screen remained dark, but a fan whispered inside the case. A nearly invisible blue beam crossed the back of Lin's neck. Cold rushed down his spine and into his brain.