ice boomed, laced with excitement. "F

powerful presence above. The air crackled with tension. Everyone assumed the gir

She raised her paddle aga

spread across Adler's face. This was mo

las bid, following A

red the realm of the absurd. The stall owner, Finch, was pra

if the numbers being thrown

er phone and typ

hor

muttered, his fingers flying across a keyboard,

e dead silence of the hall, she

. She simply hel

sed. "Miss, are you... are y

ight, almost im

man's voice cracked,

all e

is

he in

e heir to some

sts were no longer just watching an auctio

ile had vanished. His expression

This wasn't a game for her. She wasn't bidding; she was cl

, his eyes wide. "S

He watched the girl's unyielding s

a thunderous crack. "To the young lady i

stares, Chloe calmly stood and walke

raised his comms device. "Evan. The winn

sation. She tucked the box securely into her hoodie pocket and headed for a side exit. She

"The payment was made with an untraceable, non-registered Centurion card. T

shot up. Untrac

"interesting" to "imperative." He stood, lea

ice corridors, her senses on high al