Chicago night air clinging to his skin like a damp

sed by the late hour and the bag. Ace didn't acknowledge him. His eyes were scanning th

n. They moved with the aggressive silence of predators. They pulled up to

lead vehicle opened

e

was impeccable, not a wrinkle in sight. He wore white gloves that seemed to

old-world deference that looked comp

Ace," Sen said. His voice

felt like a shackle sn

o before the neighbors

id thud, sealing out the noise of the city. The interior smelled of expensive leather and cedarwo

in front of him. The screen flickere

. The lines around his mouth were deeper, the skin under hi

. He was staring at Ace's flannel shi

ed for a living. You should t

about the girl. Brittni Ramirez. Do you want her company

harp, but he suffocated it instantly. "No. I want her to watch me

omecoming Protocol' is in effect.

pocket. He pulled it out. A no

$50,000

. They meant nothing. T

d, his voice dropping an octave. "I want the

He looked away for a fraction of a s

Sites in Eastern Europe," Ace sai

k, black device. "Your new phone, sir. Custom encryption. Your new iden

past a billboard. It was an ad for Brittni's tech startup, Ramirez Solutio

small her world

ridge crossing the Chicago Rive

hoto of Brittni-the selfies, the dinner dates, the candid shots of her

ndow. The wind roared

ough the air, a small black brick, and

window up. He d