Chapter Two: The Seven Seconds Every Camera Forgot

Zhao finishes his shift at six at an Old Harbor pumping station. We have nineteen hours.” Zhao was thinner than his profile photograph. The rim of his red helmet had faded white. He laughed at Lin's warning until he saw Chen's photograph—not her disappearance, but the corridor reflected behind her. “She saw it too?” he whispered. “Saw what?” Xu asked. Zhao looked toward the rusted station door. “There are twelve pipes in the third maintenance row. The plans say twelve. But when I look aside, I count thirteen. Face them and there are twelve again.” “Don't go below today,” Lin said. “Three districts need those pumps. Will you go for me?” Before Xu's inspection team arrived, Zhao went underground, and they followed.