eart of San Francisco. The security was absolute: three layers of biometric scann

ial pieces of furniture. Floor-to-ceiling windows wrapped around the entire apartment, offering a pan

longed to Christoper Blac

alked barefoot across the cool, polished conc

rging dock and dialed a number. Leo Vance, her personal

voice was crisp, efficient. "Ms. Bl

on estate first thing in the morning. All of my personal belongings there-clothes, books,

med. "All items? Including the art

"I want that space to be comp

ll joint accounts I hold with Edmund Hamilton. I want a complete firewall establis

"The legal team will be o

at's all

hodically erased, financially and physical

lked to the wet bar and poured herself a glass of Lagavulin

down at the city below. The countless light

we've checked every possible location for Ms. Blackburn. There's no sig

ble. How could a woman accustomed to a life of limitl

otel registry in the state!" He was still convinced this was a performan

turned off all the lights, cr

he scotch. The smoky, medicinal flavor was a shock

be found. She didn'

as no confusion in her eyes, only t

er life for a marriage. N

nside, rows of server racks hummed silently, their status l

ch-screen panel of a central server cabinet. The screen flickered to life,

logo, one

room, her voice clear.

oth and calm. "Diagnostics running. All s