ered against the ambient noise of the city. It was parked in the shadows across from St. Geo

ass. He was looking at a tablet, his finger hovering over a file detailing the school's en

He tapped his earpiece. "The foundation's recent acquisitions are... unu

d mothers in Chanel suits waiting for the dismissal bell. "My grandmother loves this school. She'd hat

cut through the polite chatter of the school pick-up line. It pulled

ailored navy blue dress and low heels. Her blonde hair was pull

look like the other mothers. She looked like a lawyer ab

and a flood of children

Quentin

ls, ran toward the town car. They didn't walk; they sprinted.

their seatbelts, her posture radiating a focused calm. She spoke to them, her lips moving

ional, shifted. There was a familiarity to her pr

red, turning back to his tablet, trying to dism

stered to a corporate account for Sterling Investments

e money trail. The foundation is the only thing that mat

her neck stood up. It was a sensation she knew well-the

ark glasses. Her gaze landed on the black Escalade parked in the shade. Th

seemed to lock with the

hrough the tint, he felt the weight of

car pulled smoothly into traffic

cold, sir," Quenti

leather seat. "Senator Sterling is expecting us at the

thouse of the Sterling Building

ern art and cold surfaces. Lucas Sterling was pacing the floor, his tie loosened,

e," he b

the twins to a velvet sofa. "Sit here

er to Sterlin

flipped it open. Her eyes moved rapidly across the offshore account sta

wrapped it, and handed it to Mia without looking away from the papers. "He's using the same clearin

of a chair to steady himself. "If this g

e a new firewall, route the funds through a blind trust I control

ling said. "Mon

a cover. And I need Leo and Mia

ere. The guest wing is empty. We'll sa

from Bergdorf's. She stopped dead when she saw the two identical backpac

here? And who is she?" She gestured to Imogen with a manicure

pping between them. "My niece. She's goi

n the severe dress, the aura of cold comp

sement and pity. She knew the Sterling family finances better than Lind

said dryly. She picked up the backpacks.