y the flickering glow of passing streetlights. The rhythmic squeak of the wipers filled the silence, each pass slicing through the haze that clouded the gl

ndustries. The memory of his final moments was still raw-blood pooling

rc

ystem. A man who apparentl

etal exterior rusting at the seams. A single, flickering bulb above the entrance cast a sickly yellow glow, maki

s?" she asked, her

sharply. "No.

pace was a chaotic mess-monitors stacked haphazardly, wires snaking across the floor, half-empty takeout containers balanced precarious

s under his eyes. His fingers danced across the keyboard, the soft clat

ocked on the screen. Lines of code flashed by i

hing," Randi said, steppin

d for a beat before he turned to face them. His eye

nally. "But you're

ed his arms

, the screen flickering before loading a grainy video feed. The image was dimly lit-an office, sleek and modern, with expen

th caught in

va

uldn'

in arms. Dead. Burned alive in a

was. Alive. Breath

ing for an explanation. His stomach twisted as he sta

haking his head. "Th

timestamp was recent-just days ago. Navaro again, but this time, he was laughing,

His pulse hammered in his ears.

His voice sounded distant, hollow. "

but it carried the weight of a sledgehammer. "It was all a cover.

pinning, his breath coming in short, uneven bursts. His mind reeled, sc

ried Navar

stone, whispering promises to a

p breath beside him. "J

hifted, twisted into something unrecognizable. His

out, his voice ra

is gaze steady. "That's

a grip on the fury building inside him. When he opened the

s still o

was going

car's roof the only sound between them. The cold night air carried the distant hum of the city, but inside the car, silence reigned. Neither spoke as Martha turned th

o was

ther-it had all been a lie. He clenched his jaw, forcing himself to focus. He couldn't afford to let emotions get

the silence. "So wh

mple. "Marcus said it himself

ngers against the wheel. "A

the rain-blurred c

a look. "Geral

ce steady. "But what if he

owned. "L

ion on Redwell, on Navaro, there's a chance

or a moment before noddi

e," Randi

Randi scanned the area. A single streetlight flickered near the entrance, casting long, shifting shadows. The parking lot was nearly emp

s stale, thick with the scent of dust and something faintly metallic. A half-eaten meal sat on the counter, untouched. A whiskey gla

s of scattered notes. It looked like a mess at first g

place," Randi said, shif

and pulled out a note

cribbles of numbers, times, addresses. Then,

va

me was a series of coordinates and

don't st

tha's gaze. "

dded.

ordinates. "Wher

should be careful. If Gerald knew something worth dy

into his jacket, noddi

rgency crackled between them. Gerald had left them a trail, one that could unravel e

was far