smelled like r

space. The single hanging bulb cast long, crooked shadows. Three men stood wai

them said, but not like he cared. Mor

ra replied, keepin

permanent sneer. He looked her up and down lik

What does this have

e sneer deepened. "You d

t doesn't disappear bec

e. Then laughter

man ever was." He tossed a manila envelope onto the table between them. "Inside is

e envelope. "A qu

this right,

if I

hen Victor gets to decide which

ped. She reached

your boss. Stark's been slippery lately. If

-

d around t

e. Victor hadn't said a word on the drive back. He didn't need to.

finally broke and

internal project names. O

ne Pr

t once. Buried in a quarterly

w: dig into it... o

-

Jake hadn'

ming. He sometimes to

sistant didn't know where he was. Even Sophie, his s

us. Not even Michael kno

he message longe

dn't a

-

noon, she checked

ing about the silence inside dis

and on the handl

one buzzed. Unkn

dumb. We're

hoto. Her, this morning

felt heavier. The list insid

-

, Victor sho

calm. "They're ex

n't had

y care about y

Jake. He's... gone, o

n you dig faster. I can o

er couch. "Why are

. Then: "Because your fathe

elt like there was more. Bu

-

ater, s

the office aft

card, she enter

e cedar, coffe

he secure terminal. Hands trembling,

ne Pr

s: De

admin code.

led "Private J.S." It was lo

urse

to shut everything dow

ing m

al. No

one

ldn't be h

erked

een fli

t shut off

-

e office, heart poundin

t the m

ke wat

omeon

dline, and why did it feel l

-

ect him to be i

. Her umbrella had flipped twice in the wind. Her shoes squelched on the

here

e S

k on her couch lik

rolled up. A thin cut on his jaw. Eyes

breathed. "Wh

said. "I figured I dese

heart in her throat

he fake rock," he said dryly. "C

d. But there was an edge ben

ed, pulling off her coat. "E

ndling so

alway

eyes l

ferent kind crac

ike a man who knew exactly how

what you were do

od iced

essed my private terminal. Late last night. From

ou have surveillanc

lance on people

her

eal anything

y. "But you were lo

idn't

could smell the rain on him. Something elect

mething," he said

hed. "You don't

ping her jaw, thumb brushi

mured. "But

e kiss

a

esting. Just a sudden heat, full of

urling in his shirt, pulling him closer, furious at him and

wall, lips trailing down her

lust. It was the ed

e

gr

d, burning betw

ed away, his forehea

ates things,"

were still grip

r simple," she

-