e. She kept hoping it was some glitch maybe a typo-but no. There it was, clear as

her voice flat. "How

nned the bottom half. "Someone us

he frowned. "They're suppo

nated his access rig

eactivated th

hat it lo

n the eye. "Who actually

ators can access the archive system. The request came from an

who did it?"

re o

t down remote access," he ordered. "Lock eve

stood,

to a secure, offline server. No

left, shutting th

d. "You're going to tell

Adrian's credentials. That

ence wore thin. "Could the

ay

p instead of sendin

nything. I'm preserving evidence. If it disappea

nless you're the one

ves if you want, Elara. Just don't assum

een them. "Five years ago, you

regret that. I won'

anything." Her voice

eed quietly.

e form. "Who would want us to b

mebody who wants us distrac

r un

uld

n't he been

. "Suspicion isn'

caught a small, restless motion-he kept rubbing his thumb ove

ou suspected Dor

t after Adr

just sa

investigati

telling t

ome things. No

to protect y

ect someone who w

t urge-not really-but she c

he archive

d a brow

rought me here to feed

out a laugh without hu

hat's the only reason

e flickered

on," h

's sleek, polished lobbies-the air here felt heavier, tinged with paper and old wood and du

n here before, five years ago, carrying a folder and looking for a missing

bout that night,"

"Don't act like you kn

punched in the code.

raphs, more paper than anyone should deal with in a lifetime. I

uge cabinet by the wal

have. Not

e cabinet's bottom hinge-she remembered tha

maged when h

odded.

photog

tty

tty

here the w

en replaced. Somebody patched it up. Why? Maybe

"Do you know what

Hotel ownership r

any mi

s audit files w

n was working on-so

nod

eone too

es

r un

s my g

e shelves. "Then we need to find

hat's why I w

d, surpris

o offer y

ought we were talk

ral plans and glossy photographs across the tabl

thing in this place, but parts have been closed off for years. I want som

ivate courtyard, all the details she'd pored over in universi

ask

tion supervision, archival work. It's all in your portfolio

ed Elara c

ed. She sent your credenti

sharp pang. Mara had se

't anyone

talk to her about

ere was a room at the hotel if she wanted it, and she'd

s the

isn't

ys a catch."

table. "All I want is for yo

hrough the

find anything related t

?" she

er should

o keep me close. Make sure n

bigger than just a job, Elara. Your grandmother

the people chasing her would get exactly what they wante

I pick my restoration team. No one tells me what historical records

as said aft

re me just because I sta

face seriou

t directly to

ur line

s restorati

t wo

e folder away. "Send the

stopped. "And the brass

her bag ti

la

hat my grandmother protect

. But don't use it alone. If your grandmother was right

u should have thought of that five yea

alked

offer-good salary, all her conditions met. Independence guaranteed, in

ra V

a burgundy dress, dark hair nea

Ashford. Silas's ex, now rumored to

es

enough to be polite.

know

nced toward the elevato

ldn't

ol, clinical sort of curiosity

posed to

owed for a heartbeat. "Your grandmother beli

. "What do you

slipped. She looked almost hau

ivienne stepped away. "Enjo

toward the elevat

new message, unknown number

LEFT THE KEY WHE

ter, anot

KNOW YO

ators, then back at her ba

e she'd already crossed a line-one she couldn't walk back over.