The scent of freshly brewed coffee lingered, untouched on the tray beside him. Outside, sunlight pooled through the

re

o a night that had

wntown alleyway

iguel had been walking back from a late meeting with a potential i

-a path he used often to avoid photograph

g knocked over. But then a sharp cry

instincts

g a young woman near a dumpster. One had grabbed her wrists, ano

it won't hurt," the one

didn't

said, voice h

ed, surprised,

ess, rich boy," the on

ered to his forehead, but he didn't move.

huckled. "You thi

"You're live right now," he lied. "Streaming to every securit

wor

er his breath and ran. The others

ere gone did Mig

torn at the sleeves, her eyes wide and haunted. Her face was smud

hurt?"

dn't a

'm not going to touch you. I jus

hen she

-deep, dark, w

d, voice barely

forgotten th

was a

pulled from the

as always in his half-buttoned shirt and too-

You look like

tight smile. "

ook. Someone should put

an eyebrow.

"Not even close. Anyway, I came to tell you so

d. "What does

rol. Reassurance

playing h

. But there's more. Yo

d. "She never

's weird. She's inviting

stared

said it's important.

The city stretched beyond the glass-elegant

en to the hou

that," Micah said. "Which makes

"Do you think it has an

head. "Letty? As

d's gaze. "You didn't see her eyes today

e's connected

. She's scared. She's being watched. And whoever's wa

s a lot of heat for someo

"She's more than th

ou to dinner, and Letty's got shadows following her... may

cked up h

are you

steady. "But not before I call som

ed. "You think s

k we al

Evening – V

vy doors, and the sharp scent of polished wood and imported roses. Miguel stepped in

le blue silk blouse that somehow made her look younger than her sixty years.

l," sh

ed, taking his sea

econds

he wine. "Caberne

imself a glass

dinner invitat

other can't want

idle con

So let's not pretend. I wan

narrowed. "W

pson is a quiet woman, but he

said

is showing up in some very... interesting pla

Thompsons

aved her l

d on the stem of his glas

She just happened to

ptly, pushing the

not by me. There are players moving pieces around you. If you're not

warning?"

ied. "You are not your fath

im more-the implication of surveillance or the idea that his mot

're playing," Miguel said.

ion softened. "That