cemail four times before h

e message went to her phone, her email, and to Chloe, with a si

e called back eleven minutes

e down on a dark road at ten at n

know, Ev

Tonight. We take t

e other room. They're not going to reopen it for a mystery voice. But I know where to look. Th

sil

Westwood. I'm

softened. That's h

plain white card, letting th

re she could thi

up on the secon

s. Everything tied to Halcyon Ridge, the Hart

lmost hear him weighin

signed the s

read the books. T

loor. Ethan Brooks stays with you at all times. No copies or ph

her phone, and the second voice only Chloe knew

d, sh

ce was quieter now. Almost

heavy in her chest, and she d

lves and cool white lights. Every aisle by year, every box with a barcode. Order. Control. N

ffered a hand. Ethan Brooks. Legal counsel. Chris's oldest fr

warmth and calculation in his grip. Eth

d of what I migh

crooked grin. Honestly, Chris doesn't trus

sn't k

faded a bit. That'

d set down four grey boxes. Thomas Westwood. Ex

oves Ethan handed he

left nothing to chance. She read for three hours, head down. She found nothing that explained Halcyon Ridge. But she saw

lim black folder underneath the others. No label.

D - CEO A

across the aisle, distracte

open it. She

rainy night, that promises to men with secrets

ed the tape. S

s on the right. A steady line of transfers into Halcyon Ridge Holdings,

ot an approval, but a note, handwritten and an

Thomas's, she had just spent hours with hi

ver admitted to her. He had stood in that boardr

down, M

er, steady, cold, calm enough to m

yn f

faint drop at the end of the line. The kind of

a voicemail, in a

the pho

r heart hammer