LOGINThe auctioneer's cadence moved through the wall. I had built something without him. That was still true. It would stay true. Whatever I said next didn't touch it. "I don't know," I said. "That's the honest answer. Not the managed version." I met his gaze. "I don't know if what's left is enough to
Alicia's POV The older man was still talking. "Seven years," he said. "Four jurisdictions. We moved water infrastructure across borders that hadn't spoken to each other in a generation." His hands traced corridors in the air between us. "The archive is the proof it happened. That it worked." He tu
“You entered without cause,” I said. “You stayed without one.” “I don’t know what this is between you two but—” “My wife.” No variation in tone. No additional weight needed. Alicia’s hand lifted a little, then halted mid-motion and settled again without completing the gesture. The woman exhaled
Edward’s POV “Forty thousand. Do I have forty-five?” The paddle was already raised. Alicia’s hand remained under mine, unchanged in position, as though neither of us had adjusted to its presence since it settled there. “Forty-five.” I raised. “Fifty. Fifty-five.” On the left, a man leaned forw
The fifth lot began. Edward moved to speak to someone at the side of the room. I watched the auctioneer. She crossed the room toward him. He turned when she spoke. She laughed. It had worked before, that laugh. I scanned the sixth lot. Mixed media, authenticated 2019, provenance verified. Her h
Alicia's POV Volkov was already at the door when we came in. His eyes went to my dress and came back up. Lazily. He turned to Edward, and they shook hands. It ran a half-second longer than it needed. "You both came," he said. "You invited us," Edward said. "I invite many people. They don't alwa
Edward's POV The first call went out before seven. Short. Both people already knew what needed to be said and neither wasted time getting there. I ended it and moved to the next name on the list. The second call was different. This one needed handling. The person on the other end had been sitting
"The witness may step down." I crossed the room. Back past the partition. Sat. The technician moved to the front. The screen descended from the ceiling at the far end. Something in the room changed before a single frame appeared. That collective shift of people who understand that something is abo
"No, you're not." Vivienne settled back in her chair, her eyes bright with memory. "Do you remember that summer when you were sixteen? The Harringtons' annual garden party? You and Lucy snuck away to the old gazebo, and when we found you, you were planning to run to Paris together." "We were teenag
We settled into our seats, and immediately a server appeared with water and menus. The sight of the leather-bound menu made my stomach clench. I opened it anyway, scanning the options while Harrison traded pleasantries with Edward about the weather, the traffic, meaningless pleasantries that precede







