Page 86 of Dose

My pulse climbs.

“If Cascade’s records are complete,” I say, “the supplier may identify facilities we haven’t found through the hubs.”

“And give us a second way to verify every destination it shares with Seattle.”

For a moment, the obvious destructive answer hangs between us: stop the precursor, stop seven facilities.

Neither of us says it.

The children at those facilities are dependent on the compounds the precursor becomes. Removing the supply before medical teams reach them would turn a network vulnerability into a mass withdrawal event.

“We cannot take it offline,” I say.

“No.” Ezra marks the supplier node in amber rather than red. “It is not a kill switch. It is an observatory.”

I look at him.

“Access the customer records,” he continues. “Maintain the production schedule. Watch every shipment until recovery teams are ready for the facilities on the other end.”

The cold excitement under my sternum changes shape. Not destruction. Visibility.

“Get Nikolai,” I say.

“Already did.”

Of course he did.

The Chamber fills twenty minutes later.

I stand beside Ezra’s display with a paper folder I do not need. Theon takes the place on my right, close enough that the back of his hand brushes mine.

Nikolai reads the header before everyone sits. “Cascade Analytical Supply. Explain.”

I explain the Tacoma distributor, the Texas manufacturer, and the seven confirmed customers. Ezra adds the overlap with the western hub’s unknown distribution points.

“What does taking Cascade offline do to active dosing?” Nikolai asks.

“Nothing good,” I say. “Working stock varies by facility, but some could begin running short within weeks. We do not interrupt production or shipping.”

Raphael nods once.

“Objective?” Damon asks.

“Quiet access,” Ezra says. “Clone the customer and batch records, establish persistence if possible, verify the precursor identity, and leave the plant operating normally.”

“Security footprint?” Nikolai asks.

I bring up the property file. “The visible footprint is small. Eleven employees on payroll, commercial locks, no declared security contract, no recent permit activity suggesting hardening.”

“Visible,” Damon repeats.

“Yes.” I meet his eyes. “That does not make the threat small. It means we need current surveillance before we decide what is behind the cover.”

His attention stays on me for another second. “Good.”

Marcus pulls the address onto his screen. “I can have remote imaging and a seventy-two-hour movement pattern by tomorrow. We will still need eyes on the ground.”

“Dominic,” Nikolai says.