As night deepened, the streets were nearly empty under the city's full lockdown, save for uniformed patrols. The few civilians who were out walked hurriedly, afraid of drawing trouble.

At that moment, a ten-man patrol unit approached the small courtyard where Warrick was hiding.

Leading them was Mulder Frank, a burly man with a buzz cut. After ensuring the street was clear, he stepped forward and knocked on the courtyard door.

The knocking followed a distinct rhythm, like a secret code. After