doors of the Maddo

oots sank into the thick Persian rug. The

aircase. She wore a silk robe. She held a crystal

urled in disgust. She

wing," Johanna told the butler. Her voice was sharp

e Johanna's presence. She grabbed her heavy

Johanna on

the sudden drop in temperature. She shivered and

g, silent hallway. She fou

t behind her. She turned the deadbolt. She flipped the latch. She hu

r bag onto the

pulled out a small device. It loo

tiny green light blinked to life. It w

he swept the device over the bedside la

f a horse, the scanner emitte

smiled

felt the smooth surface of the wall. She found a sm

ter in her palm. It was a

and and found a second on

bugs into the massive marble bathroom.

out, hitting the marble with a loud, continuous roar. The

oom. She reached into her bag an

passcode. The screen unlocked. She

connected

r. Zane's voice was distorted by the encrypti

," Ashl

doctor ten grand to talk. An hour ago, a man came in. He bought a massive amou

ctor get a

"But the doctor noticed the smell. He said the gu

Her pulse ticked slightly

The gunshot

Zane said. "I dug it out of

zed. She opened th

ze. Sitting in the center of the dark red

med in on

ack in a very specific, jagged pattern.

d. Her thumb traced t

ounds she used in her Barrett. The bullet had hit him, shattered ag

e said. A dark thrill r

t from that round and still managed to escape, cross the ocean, and wal

ack the heavy velvet curtains. She looked

t, the better the hun

-market lab to extract DNA," Zane

e said. She hu

eep into the side compartment. Her fingers wrapp

ne release. The empty mag slid into her palm.

k. C

ic sounds echoed

a classical piece, played with exaggerated e

ition. She pressed the brass cartri

etic family sitting in the living room below. They h