b hovering over the screen. The numbers 9-1-

would see a confused old man and a hysterical young woman with no money and no connectio

ll evaporated, replaced by

torn from her throa

irk spreading across his face. He lowe

her voice barely a whisper. "Please. W

the broken doorframe to watch them, lik

ld barely function. She guided a terrified and confused Arthur to

bag, tossed in a corner. The card

r have a reas

a reas

ed the handwritten number. It felt like a surrender. A d

stretching into an etern

top floor of a skyscraper. Th

nior executive droned on about a hostile takeover bid worth ten billion dollar

umber he did

feeling he couldn't explain, made him raise a hand, cutti

ha

strained, trying so hard to so

on the room of stunned executives, and walked to the floor-

e demanded, his v

the words tumbling out in a rush. "We have nowhere to g

clearly. A man's coarse voice in the background.

and lethal, flood

with questions. He di

ee words infused with absolut

voice leaving no room for argument. He looked at Leo. "Get the New York s

and didn't hesitate. He was already

phone, the dead line buzzing in her e

an throwing their few belongings

e sound of screeching ti

g impatient, peered out th

ed off the entire street. Men in dark, impeccably tailored suits and earpi

remaining hinge. The lead security agent, a mountain of a man with a completely blank expre

and bravado draining out of

tening almost imperceptibly. He inclined his head. "Mrs. Sharp," he

's son, at the team of professional soldiers standing

in trouble. He was the tr

r husband's men, she walked out of the apartment, leaving