Chapter One: The Ring That Crushed an Elevator

“Fire rescue needs seven minutes,” she said. “Your floor has three. Which object is heaviest?” “The piano,” Huang said. “No.” Lin stared at the bench. “The ring.” She did not laugh. She lowered a climbing rope. “Xu Cheng. People first. Then we test your madness.” After Huang climbed out, Lin opened the bench. A plain wedding band lay in a hidden compartment, pressing a bowl-shaped hollow into the lining. His crowbar bent when he tried to lift it. He touched the ring again. The black glove came off, revealing a crescent burn at the base of a thumb. Tweezers opened the inner rim, where a black chip no larger than rice was inserted. Half a man’s face crossed a mirror, smiling tenderly. “Zhao Kai,” Xu Cheng said.