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Chapter 38 - Collateral Damage

last update 最終更新日: 2025-07-28 16:56:12

Marcus

The morning after Sophia and I nearly set her apartment on fire with tension and bad decisions, I met Rodriguez at The Archive.

The Archive is a disused reading room buried beneath a landmark building in Midtown. No cameras. No electronic interference. Just dusty shelves, ancient fluorescent lighting, and the quiet creak of history.

Rodriguez was already there when I arrived. Standing beneath a rusting sconce, arms crossed over his gray overcoat like he was posing for the Bureau’s most intimidating Christmas card.

He didn’t wait for pleasantries. “What were you doing at Sophia Chen’s apartment last night?”

My heart kicked once, hard. But I didn’t blink.

“That’s why I requested the meeting,” I said, keeping my voice even. “I tracked down her real identity. It’s also why I went to her apartment, to confirm it really is her.”

Rodriguez narrowed his eyes. “So you were on a fact-finding mission. You know better than to go without back-up. Did you confront her?”

“I was careful. And
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