calculated. The marble floors echoed under his shoes, and the air was as cold and sterile as ever.

s nerves buzzed

here to

t

dith knew about Emma's cl

ving a few nods to his co

ine, stirring sugar into her mug like

himself and

ound of his footste

" he repl

casual, unreadable. "Was hoping to ge

sick. Woke up with a fever. Tol

owly. "Ah. Flu season's making a com

was

essing. No suspicious look

he was telling the truth and really

rts, participated in a briefing, and pretended to be immersed in case files.

phone call, like it was

hered

him she wasn'

red: She could still

of his cover protocols and pulled up metadata. Meredith'

es linked to Black Vegas. No out-of-the-ordinary appoin

he was i

ubbed her tr

frustrated. Then picked up

said once s

k to

king lot. "Or at least she's acting like she doesn't. As

gh, steady but strained

Not yet. Lay low in the city for now

town," she offered. "They don't e

your car plates before you come

led. "Tha

ked, "You sure you

es before hitting the safe hou

smiling a littl

y. They were being hunted now-and

care

two girls sat at the breakfast table, sipping orange juice and nibbling o

hird slice when she glanced at

rom her phone. "Alr

. I need to stop by the bakery. Mrs. Thompson

. "Tell her we

hed. "She's old. She'l

bed her cardigan and walked to the

opened the door,

hoodies. It was the way they moved. Synchronized. Intentional. One looked over his shoulder too ofte

't out for

ts kicked in. H

ouse and shut the door quietly. N

elle asked f

he window. She peered out through th

re out

ho

y're dressed in black. Walking

onfused. "Are th

d it. I don't think

voice tr

ock. The hooded men glanced to

topped near a lampp

il

sta

and grabbed her phone. "I don't lik

they're w

But I'm not t

house, locking all the doors a

the door locked. Don't open it f

now wide with alarm. "W

bat from under the kitchen counter. "Bu

iled g

od like this just to get taken

Back in

own just before dusk. The sky was painted in soft orange and

anged her hair-dyeing it a deep auburn that shimmered red i

her with a hug, n

as tha

and sat on the bed, pulling out her bu

red now. We need to meet

nding three op

erself lie back for the first time

s still in

ble expression, the thug in the bar who knew he

e middle

e was

inside t

und out who it wa