egrees. Harrison Butler's presence sucked all the air out o

ning of all color. "M-Mr. Butler..." he sta

window, rushed forward, her face alight with a

hirped, her voice

was locked on Eileen. On her face, and on the pen st

ow seemed to have stopped altogether. He was taller than he looked in pi

the cancellation agreement and the platinum bank card. A

ng the terrified Mr. Davison wit

uiet, "gave you the authority to interf

ed. "I... I was just.

diagnostic sweep of the federal registry's backend an hour ago. There was no anomaly. Would you

ick. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, soaking

son's side, attempting to link her arm with his. "Harrison, it's just a

e that left no room for argument. He didn't even l

not for you to decide. It is dec

t of his words sink in. Then

tion, will fully comply with the law. I acce

choing in the stunned silence of the room

reeling. He was... defendin

he others. He walked to the desk and stood

anted. He stated a fact. "We

m the desk. He ripped it cleanly in half, then in half again,

nt of her. A clean, official, and ter

e. There was nothing. Just cold, hard resolve. She didn't know why he was doing this, b

he million dollars evaporated. There was only

d not tremble. With a steady hand, she

. He took the pen from her, his fingers brushing hers for a brief, e

he gallows, shakily processed the documents

es were slid across the desk, Eileen

utler. Protected-and owned-by federal

lid it into his jacket pocke

go, m

uch was firm, possessive. Eileen's entire

of Elianna Nelson, they walked ou