Then a new idea occurred to Harley.

How about I prove it to you? she said.

They returned to the security room, where a bank of monitors recorded events both inside and outside the compound.

I already checked the footage, Callaway said. While you were questioning Roth, the forensic team sent me a copy of the security footage. Everything prior to this morning had been erased.

Prior to this morning, Harley repeated, her heart hammering as she sat down in the swivel chair. We might still have what we need.

Callaway took a breath to argue. Then he let it out slowly, not saying a word.

Brushing aside an open bag of Takis that had left crumbs beside the keyboard, Harley searched that mornings footage until she found the group of guests gathered in the ballroom. She watched Felixs assault on the man with the white suit, followed by the panicked exit of the guests.

Damn, Callaway murmured.

Harley switched to one of the cameras overlooking the courtyard. They watched the guests mob the vehicles, casting frightened glances toward the villa as they took off. Not a vehicle remained.

Then Harley switched to the camera at the front gate, which showed the vehicles departing. She counted them. Once they were gone, she fast-forwarded to her arrival with Callaway, followed by a swarm of squad cars. Not a single vehicle entered or left the compound between the departure of the guests and the arrival of the agents.

Holy hell, Callaway said. Youre righthes still here. He peered cautiously around the room, as if Felix might be hiding behind the door. But where…

Harley sat up as the pieces began to lock into place in her mind. Felix had to have another escape route, somewhere not monitored by camerassomewhere, she guessed, not even Roth knew about. That was how he had gotten the girls out right from under Roths nose.

The surveyor maps, she said excitedly, pulling out her phone and navigating to her email. She opened the message she had sent herself from Grady Lucass controller. Navigating through the files, she came across the digital maps he had created.

Lets see, she said, studying the picture. We must be rightyes, right here. She tapped the spot, which revealed a hub of several mining tunnels that spun off in different directions like the spokes of a wheel.

Her heart tried to climb into her throat as she looked up at Callaway. Roth built this place right on top of those tunnels. All those vehicles leaving the compoundFelix did that just for show, to convince Roth those girls were going home. But really

He was taking them into the tunnels beneath us, Callaway agreed grimly. Which must be where he is right now.

Harley nodded slowly. Every nerve in her body seemed to be on fire.