In two minutes, the craft’s preplanned ground time would be up and, by then, the Aztechnology shuttle was supposed to be airborne, on its way to the Sea-Tac international airport. If the runners delayed it, the metroplex air traffic control would be alerted. The plan called for the shuttle to lift on schedule, giving the runners time to get away with their prize before pursuit could be called in. They had managed to board just as the craft was leaving the gate, successfully slipping past the ground crew. So far, only the passengers in the main cabin knew of their presence. Dodger’s black box had frozen communications with the pilot's compartment as soon as Sam had affixed it to the wall. They should have been gone already, slipping away into the night, but their man hadn’t responded to the code phrase when they had announced their presence to the passengers. Time was trickling away.