Katherine signaled for the two officers to follow as they slipped away from the equipment and moved deeper into the ship. The towering walls of containers closed around them like a steel maze, each one identical, locked, and silent. There were dozens—maybe hundreds—and every second they hesitated raised the risk of exposure.
She began moving methodically, pausing at each container to whisper, “Ahmed Osman? Are you in there?” Her voice was no louder than a breath. They passed one row, then another. Each time, there was only silence. The ship creaked softly beneath their feet, the engines humming somewhere far below.