n with a groan of hinges tha

e room seemed to drop

ing stood in

as a

readth of his shoulders. His face was gaunt, unshaven, with dark circles under his eyes that spoke of sleepless nights and high altitudes. He leaned against th

ere sharp. Ter

th opened and closed like

terling?" Va

swept the room, taking in the scene with th

onfetti of paper c

pen still standing erect

ld gaze shif

The man radiated power. It was a phys

s was the perform

itched her voice to sound reli

ep toward him

rown herself at him, faking tears

d public displays of emotion. He ha

ont of her chest instead, k

n. His eyes narrowed slightl

red. The boy stood

mal acknowledgment, barely a tilt of th

. He moved with a predator'

ipped the pen. With a single,

ters clung

t over in his long fingers. Th

s voice was like gravel grinding together-

eigning nonchalanc

. we were just protecting the assets. Sta

hand. Vance shut

redded paper on the flo

id quickly, trying to shift t

" Arthu

ria. "Why are yo

or the money, she was dead. If she said she cam

g nearby," she

contract under the table w

d an eyebrow

hat did you shop for in a business

ence st

ur repeated flatly. "In

" she gestured to the Montbla

ought school supplies. He knew she didn'

at Jones. It was a sil

father, then back at the woman who

ck," Jones said. His voic

reath she didn't k

sensed the silent communication passing between

Arthur sa

ir

Leave the buildin

d his briefcase and fled, tra

him go. He was sti

e," he sa