Rising from the Ashes (Andrew) novel Chapter 2290

Aspen recalled Andrew's warning.

"High-end safes and lockboxes can't just be tampered with. Unless you know the exact code, the moment you mess with it, you'll likely trip an alarm and give yourself away."

She studied the safe in front of her and immediately saw it was top-of-the-line. The digital screen flashed the Tristars Group logo, and next to it was a set of physical buttons.

Aspen had come prepared. She pulled out a UV flashlight and scanned the keypad, but her heart sank.

Ezekiel had clearly anticipated this because there was not a single fingerprint mark. It was as if no one had ever pressed it with bare hands. That could only mean he always wore gloves when entering the code.

Aspen slipped two thin hairpins from her pinned-up hair. The ends were bent into hooks, perfect for lockpicking. She went to work on the safe, but it was no use.

The material was rock-solid, and no matter how hard she tried, the door did not budge.

Just then, her phone buzzed against her side. She pulled it out and saw Andrew's message. [Get out now!]

It was just those three words.

Aspen's chest tightened. She hated to leave empty-handed, because failing to get the Blackstar Crystal felt like letting down her dear husband. Gritting her teeth, she was about to reach for the keypad to try entering a code, but at the last moment, she controlled herself and shook her head while muttering under her breath.

"Stay calm, Aspen. You have to stay calm! Andrew taught you never to be reckless in situations like this and never to gamble everything on a desperate move. You think the enemy is stupid, but the real fool would be you."

Without the password, how could she possibly get the Blackstar Crystal?

In a flash of inspiration, her bright eyes suddenly lit up.

She had an idea!

Andrew floored the accelerator and spoke calmly, "Let's get as far away from here as possible first!"

His old clunker roared to life, and he drove it like it was a Lamborghini. They did not stop until they were well clear of the Grand Hall and had found a secluded spot.

When Andrew parked, someone was already waiting for them.

Brielle stepped down from a black SUV, wearing a purple veil and smiling. "Impressive work! You actually managed to walk out with Ezekiel's entire safe."

Andrew grinned and replied, "I can't take credit for that. It was my partner who pulled it off. Madam Baxter, the rest is up to you now. You'd better get someone to crack it open immediately and then ditch the safe, or Ezekiel might track us down through GPS."

Brielle waved her hand, and her people immediately stepped forward to take the safe.