room at the FBI New York Field Office, Ja

front of him, resting casua

y door s

pulled a small brass key from his pocket, a

wrists slowly, s

g a thick manila folder across the table. "We had to make the public arrest look

not open

ffshore rese

ver financial routing gave us everything we needed. The York syn

his tuxedo jacket with cr

is concluded. Purge my name from th

t said, opening the door for him. "Your

idor, his chief of staff, Declan Su

ng on a secure tablet. "Every major network is report

them believe I am compromised. It will fo

inless-steel doors slid shut, and the atmo

r name sounding heavy on h

p a live satell

he has access to encrypted European bur

s jaw t

Who extracted her from the dock? Who trained her? Who

by military-grade firewalls, boss,"

d, his eyes flashing with dark in

vate underground parking level where a bl

od," Decl

enger seat, the tinted glass

st pocket and pulled out

our years ago, but Beatrix's bright, unburde

tograph, the cold, ruthless mask slipping away to reve

my little bird," Jaziel w

cut deeper than any blade, but he would bear it. He had played the villain for four ye

cing through the Manhattan rain toward hi

assed his staff and walke

safe behind the mahogany bookshelf and

teel door p

lining was bare. The tita

rfaced. He closed his eyes, and Beatrix's figure rose in his mind-how she had moved through the night like a sil

kness. She had left no trace, just as she had when she departed four years ago-so resolute and absolute. This emptine

phone buzzed

answe

came through th

nking at the Obsidian Lounge,