back perfectly straight. She calmly recounted the events of the alley to Officer Davis, her narrative precise, logical, and devoid of emotion. The o

kylar's parents, a wealthy-looking couple in expensive cashmere coats, had arrived.

ed the report, she stood to leave. Her fe

out of the waiting room, blocking her path. Her eye

gner handbag and pulled out a thick wad of cash-hundreds, at least a thousand dol

ess the money i

pockets she didn't have. She looked from the money

aid, her voice cool and even. "I

walked toward the precinct's heavy g

head. "That woman," he muttered to his p

damp and smelled of rain and exhaust fumes. She instinctively wrapped her arms a

the curb. Leo Vance was leaning agains

s face, now starkly illuminated by the streetlights. The cold had brought

his brain. The face, the nam

dropped from

the quiet street. He pointed a trembling f

he Maybach, where Julian Sterling was typing

looking down at Leo with an

He looked her up and down, his expression one of utter disbelief. "But the rumors... e

offensively

she corrected him, her voice sharp a

s the ash from his forgotten cigarette fell onto t

tinted window slid d

shadow, but his eyes were visible

ossip, but as a critical data point. A predator learning a vital piece of information abou

stammering. "He let

"Trash," she said, the word a quiet echo of wh

not lost on Julian.

ing the cold, wet pavement. She started walking away, her slender back ramrod strai

cket for a business card. He ran to catch up with her. "If you need

e crisp, gold-

it. She sidestepped him a

kept walking, disappearing in

o the Maybach, sliding into the passenger seat. The atmosphere insid

ring in the direction Nina had gone, his expression unreadable. H

e filled the car. It was quiet, thoughtful

d, as if tasting the