Reed's dirty green eyes darted through the darkness of the disused club. It had changed a lot since he'd been there last. The old bubbly glass fronted bar had been changed out for cheap battered wood at some point, and the water feature was long gone. The round tables were still there. Worn and faded with age. The padded purple chairs had been replaced with cheaper wooden seats over the years, too. The room was a little cluttered; the chairs left upended on the tables. Reed licked his lips nervously as he scanned dusty the room, squinting through the darkness. It smelled stale. Lingering beer, musk, and damp.

This was a dumb fucking idea. Nines was right. He knew Nines was right. Nines was always right. He was playing into the fucker's hands by going in alone. At the same time, he couldn't just wait it out, knowing there was a kid trapped somewhere in the basement. Depending on how long it took to mobilise SWAT, it could also mean they missed the deadline and half the block got blown to hell. If we're right about the phcking message…

Reed steadily crept forward, staying on high alert. He swept both his gaze and his gun back and forth. Covering every angle he could see. Scanning each ambush point and potential hiding place. The building looked and sounded deserted, but so did the shop…That didn't mean much when there was an android that knew how to cover its tracks and leave little to no evidence behind. He continued to wind his way between tables, slowly making his way to the bar. He was ready to drop and roll for cover at any moment, but it was eerily silent in the darkened club. It was hard to believe the place had once been so trendy and popular. It looked like a fucking dump now. Cheap furniture. A worn out, rotting, stained carpet. A soulless atmosphere. He could see why the place shut down.

Once he reached the edge of the bar, he ducked around it, crouching low and sweeping his gun left and right. If he was expecting an ambush from anywhere, it was there. The low counter had plenty of space to hide beneath where old fridges had long since been removed and disused shelving was sitting there, empty or collapsed. Even the glasses had been packed up somewhere out of sight or sold off. The old cash register sat empty on the counter, the model long since replaced by sleek touch screens and handheld pads in other clubs. Clear…Reed took a breath as he stood a little straighter, but no less alert.

It had been a long time since he'd done something like this while watching his own back. Even before Nines, he'd often taken Miller or Tina with him when scouting places and looking for suspects. He'd done it alone a few times, but it was protocol to work in pairs. It wouldn't help anyone if an officer got killed because there was no one watching their back. Reed could feel Nines' loss weighing heavily on his mind. Especially as he reached the door that would lead to the basement staircase. Suck it up asshole, there's a phcking kid down there!

It was still a swinging door, though Reed wasn't sure whether he should be thankful for that. He laid a hand on the glossy but slightly sticky wood, wincing at the loud creak it made as he edged it forward. The sound had never been this bad before. Whether that was because of the pounding music and yelling voices or the age of the place, he couldn't say. The hinges certainly weren't rusted, but it had been some time since they'd been moved. That's how it looked, anyway. If someone's here, then they certainly know I've arrived now…

Reed cursed under his breath as he stepped onto the staircase and looked down. It was pitch black. If I go down there like this, I'll be a clear phcking target…He took a shaky breath as he hesitated, rolling his shoulders as he thought it over. Alright, come on asshole…There might be something…He stepped back a little and searched the wall, finding the panel of switches. He flipped one, unsurprised as nothing happened. It was too similar to the shop. A pitch black space. No electricity. Old. Dusty. Disused. Abandoned. Cool it…He said it was a gift, right? I'm supposed to have a fair chance this time…He couldn't rule out a cruel joke. The killer was a sick fuck, but that doesn't mean he's a liar…

It wasn't ideal, or particularly good, but he didn't have many other options as he hunted for his keys. There was a small torch on the ring, like a sleek blue bullet. He twisted it and held the small light up as he snuck through the creaking door and aimed it downwards. The stairs were clear, with no side entrances. Reed kept his sharp emerald gaze locked on the chipped and faded door at the bottom of the steep staircase. The stairs themselves were uncovered cement. Faded. Chipped. Dirty. They were uneven and worn through years of use. Only staff would ever see or use them, so upkeep had never been a high priority. It was a wonder no one had slipped and killed themselves. Maybe someone did…Clubs had certainly been shut down for less.

At the bottom of the stairs, Reed pressed himself back against the wall as he gently eased the door open. He shone his small light through the crack, barely able to make out a thing in the darkness. The torch was fucking useless, but it was better than nothing. He paused, listening carefully. He could hear what sounded like short breaths. The occasional sniffle suggested it was the victim he was looking for. He pushed down the urge to burst in. Sure, that shit looked cool as fuck in the movies, but in reality, cowboy moves like that could get you killed.

He edged the door a little further forward, sweeping the small light back and forth. There was some disused piping along the walls where heavy metal barrels had once been stored in the cold space. The basement was actually tiled. Something else left over from the original bank. The faded cream tiles had been cracked over time, especially in the spaces that barrels had been continuously dumped and scraped around during deliveries and changes. Reed held his breath as he ducked around the door without warning. He was alert and on form as he swept the area. He listened closely, but it was hard to make out anything above the helpless sniffles.

"Detroit Police…" Reed announced warily, hearing the sniffles become helpless sobs. Nothing else cropped up for now. Reed remained cautious as he swept the storage area before making his way across to the heavy metal vault. He ducked inside and crouched, sweeping the small room and finding it empty, save the little girl sitting on the edge of a wooden table that had been placed in the middle of the tiled space. "Hey, is anyone else here?" Reed asked in a softer tone as he approached cautiously, getting a sick feeling in his chest as he looked down at her half stripped and wide open torso. Jesus phcking Christ! That sick phck! Motherphcking-

The girl shook her head, saline tears dripping down her pale cheeks as she pointed to the small pile of items left beside her. Reed wasted no time in lowering his gun and returning it to its holster, resting his larger hand on her small plastic shoulder. Her skin was still intact everywhere besides her torso. Blonde curls fell down past her elbows as she looked up at him helplessly. She was fucking terrified, and Reed couldn't say he blamed her with what he was looking at. He didn't even know where to start with this shit.

On the table was a small lamp. A more modern version of a gas lamp, powered by battery. Reed turned it on with a twist, sighing in relief as the old metal vault was lit with an eerie, whitish blue glow. There was a cell phone. Unlocked. It had a signal. Inside this old thing? The lead between the metal sheets should block any outgoing contact! Reed frowned, looking around for any hidden devices. There must have been something somewhere that would boost the signal. There was a final item on the table. Of phcking course. He picked up the envelope and tore it open almost hungrily. He couldn't help his racing pulse as he unfolded the paper.

My dear Gavin, Merry Christmas! Here is my gift to you. I hope you reached her in time. It's down to you to figure out my little toy. Needless to say, I'll keep my word. Once the device is deactivated, the prize is yours. Tick-tock, Detective, tick-tock. Reed clicked his tongue as he put the note aside and turned his attention to the mess inside the girl's open chest port. He wasn't the best at niceties and reassurances, though he did rest a hand on her small forearm as he leaned down to look inside the messed up cavity. There was some sort of device jerry-rigged to her thirium pump, and he didn't need to be a member of the bomb squad to know she was going to explode if he didn't get that fucking thing out.

"Phck…Alright, let's think about this…" Reed murmured, green eyes flicking up to the pale girl as she looked down at him fearfully. She didn't seem to be afraid of him, but she was still fucking terrified. Of course she is. That sick phck probably told her exactly what he was doing to her. "My name's Gavin. How about you? You got a name?" he asked kindly, his voice laced with nerves as he looked between her and the brick in her chest. It was wired straight into her thirium pump. Strung through the valves. She let out a small hum as she nodded her head.

"S-Sandy," she replied timidly as he examined the pump. The word sent a jolt through his chest. That explains why he kept her out of all the kids on the bus…What are the odds? That brought up a new question. Why pick a substitute? Why not go for Jack's family directly? As far as he knew, they were still in the area. As far as I know…They may well have moved away after all this time…He shook off the thought. Now wasn't the time. He had to figure out how to get that bomb out of her chest. He gave Sandy a small nod as he picked up the phone. Why leave me a line to the outside? Is he planning on calling, or is he just listening in?

"Alright…I'm not a bomb expert, so I'm going to use this phone to make a call, and we're going to get someone down here to help you…Just…hold my hand, see? I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere," Reed assured with forced calm as he held out his right hand. Sandy latched onto it tightly. As a child android, she didn't have the strength of the adult models, so it didn't hurt, but it was firm. Reed squeezed back with a nod as he looked at the phone, sighing as he tried to think of the right number. Phck…What was it? His brow furrowed as he typed in what he remembered. He'd tried to memorise it a few months back. He knew better than anyone that shit could happen and he could end up somewhere without his phone.

"Hello? Who is this?" Nines' voice demanded almost coldly, though Reed couldn't blame him. He wouldn't be expecting a call from an unknown number. Aside from Nines' voice it was eerily silent, though that wasn't entirely unexpected since this was a direct line to his partner's head.

"It's me. Is everyone else there?" Reed asked anxiously, sighing in relief as he looked at Sandy. He wasn't sure exactly what model she was, but she was obviously some sort of YK. She didn't look any older than about ten. Niles' designed age. She was quivering like a leaf, her hand not releasing his for an instant. Her blue eyes were swimming, small rivers still running down her cheeks and over her lips. Once Nines answered in the affirmative, Reed gave a small nod. "Alright, listen up. I've got a child android with some sort of explosive wired up to her thirium pump. I'm going to send you some pictures so you can show it to SWAT. They usually have an explosives expert on the team. I need someone down here, ASAP," he replied in a steady tone. Nines agreed before he hung up.

Reed stepped to the side, holding up the phone to take a closeup shot of the explosive. He then angled the phone to each side and below, trying to get as clear a picture of the connections as possible. He looked at the time on the phone. They barely had thirty minutes. Phck, I hope they have someone. He sent the five pictures and waited. He wasn't waiting long. He drew his gun as he heard a set of hurried steps on the stone stairs.

"Detective Reed?" a familiar voice called from the darkness. Reed sighed in relief as he returned his gun to its holster.

"In the vault, Cap!" He gave the SWAT captain a tight-lipped smile of greeting as the armoured man stepped through the doorway with a small tool kit. Allen gave him a similar look with a small nod. It was a look that mutually said it's good to see you again, but this is a shitty time for a reunion. The pair had met quite a few times, what with SWAT coming and going around the precinct. Allen was one of the few who'd never been afraid to go toe to toe with him in the gym. He'd often complained at Reed for liking the easy life and not signing up to SWAT himself. Reed just couldn't do without the thrill of a case and working out puzzles. It was different to the frontline missions that SWAT got deployed on.

"Let's take a look," Allen murmured with cool focus as he opened his kit and pulled on a set of specialist goggles. Reed wasn't sure what they were for, but he wasn't about to distract Allen with questions at a time like this. "The design is pretty standard…It's been wired directly into her thirium pump…Obviously, disconnecting her pump is out of the questions, and I can't remove it without pulling these wires free. Doing that will detonate the device," he explained in a focused murmur as he delicately felt around the thing with nimble fingers. Apparently, he wasn't worried about it randomly exploding in his face. He seemed confident as he handled the device, so long as the three wires rigging the thing remained attached.

"So pull the wire. You said it was a standard design, right?" Reed checked as he leaned down beside Allen, who sighed low as he drew his fingers back and gave Reed an apologetic look. Not so simple, huh?

"It's a standard design alright, but the wire configuration for this sort of thing is interchangeable. The correct wire on one device can be completely different on another. If I could get my scanner in here, or an android specialist, I'd be able to scan it in seconds, however…" Allen trailed off meaningfully, frustration and resentment dripping in his tone. Reed cursed under his breath. The magnetic field. That's why it was there. It wasn't just to separate Reed from Nines. It was there to stop SWAT or anyone else from finding a way around the puzzle. Reed had to figure out which wire to cut by himself. That was why the note had been left for him. If I hadn't come back, then it would have been left down to SWAT and Colin to guess randomly…

"The field is knocking out anything electrical, but the cell phone still works," Reed pointed out. Allen nodded his agreement. He was unsurprised by the news as he slowly unscrewed the casing of the device, hoping a look inside would help make things clearer. Sandy trembled as he began opening up the casing, terrified that he'd accidentally set it off. "Hey-hey! It's okay. I'm right here with you," Reed assured softly as he held up their joined hands, feeling a weak squeeze in return as she buried her damp face in his arm.

"The field is only so wide, but the problem is that prolonged exposure damages electrical circuitry. If you hadn't pulled you partner out as fast as you did, his internal systems would have fried," Allen replied as he continued to examine the mass of wires. Reed's chest tightened at the thought. If he'd decided to just leave Nines in the street, he'd be dead right now. That hit hard. He couldn't imagine what life without Nines would look like. They'd only been working together for a few months, but he was already irreplaceable. It almost physically hurt to think of Nines being gone.

"So the field is up to stop me cheating…" Reed murmured in a low tone as he leaned in to look at the bomb. The look Allen gave him was almost sympathetic as he allowed him to look inside. Allen continued to search for another way of disconnecting the bomb from the girl. If he could do that, then he could deal with the explosive separately. "If this thing blows…" Reed trailed off questioningly. Allen's eyes looked around the vault briefly.

"It could take out the whole building…maybe a little more?" He thought the damage could be limited a little by locking the vault. He wasn't about to say that out loud in front of the girl though. He wasn't that heartless. Sandy whimpered at the news. Reed gave her his best reassuring look while Allen pitied her. She'd been kidnapped, half stripped, and hooked up to an explosive. He was honestly surprised she wasn't wailing and screaming. She was wearing a pleated red and black tartan skirt with white socks and black shoes. The outfit had probably looked smart, like a uniform. It was cute. She was just a child. Allen sighed anxiously as he tried to think of a way out.

"Alright…Three wires, three colours…Brown, green, and blue…" Reed frowned a little as he thought it over, chewing the inside of his mouth. The key had to be something to do with the colours. These colours mean something to him…He stared at the wires, almost as if the right one would jump out at him. There's no way the killer would just make it completely random. That wouldn't be much of a game for him. I just need to figure out the key…Did the colours come up in any of the murders? Not that he could recall. Our letters? He was coming up blank again.

"We have less than ten minutes…If we make it to five, I'm going to call it," Allen sighed apologetically, Reed shaking his head in refusal. He knew what that meant. That meant they cleared out and secured the area. The right thing to do in that case would be to lock the vault and hope the metal and lead contained the bulk of the blast. Up above, he knew they'd already be preparing for the worst. Pulling fire alarms and sending officers and agents up to each floor of the surrounding buildings to get as many civilians clear as possible.

"You go. There's no point in both of us being down here. I'll do my best to figure it out and cut the right wire when the time comes…Don't worry, I know what to do," Reed added meaningfully at the end as he glanced at Sandy. He wasn't about to say it out loud. She didn't need to hear that sort of negativity. Allen was reluctant, but understanding as he dropped the screwdriver he was holding into the small case.

"You'd better return this later," Allen murmured as he nudged his tools closer to Reed. His greenish hazel eyes remained sharp as he looked at Reed and held out his hand. Reed nodded his agreement and gripped the offered hand tightly. A silent understanding passed between them. Reed watched Allen go before turning to Sandy with a small smile.

"Let's get to work, kid…I'm going to need a little help," he sighed as he raised the phone and dialled again.