CHAPTER 025 DANSPOV Theglowofmultiplecomputerscreensbathedthedimlylitroominaneeriebluelight.Theairbuzzedwith thehumofharddrives,therhythmicclickingofkeyboardsfillingthespacelikeanurgentcountdown.
Myteamworkedatabreakneckpace,theireyesflickingbetweenmonitorsasfeedafterfeedcycledthrough.Streetcorners,alleys,subwaystationseverypossiblerouteshecouldhavetaken.Yet,nothing.
Iexhaledsharply,armscrossedovermychest,frustrationclawingatme.Adrianwaslosingpatience,andwhenAdrianlostpatience,peoplegot hurt.Idseenitbefore,andIhadnointerestinbeingon the receiving endofhisanger.
Asharpcursebrokethroughthetensesilence.
Stillnosignofher,Johnmuttered,hisfingers flying over thekeyboard.Eithershesdamngoodatavoidingcameras,orshesgone underground.
Iranahandthroughmyhair,tensionknottinginmymuscles.
Weremissingsomething.Another tech,barelylookingupfromhisscreen,offeredasuggestion.Maybeshechangedherappearance? Doesntmatter,Isnapped,steppingcloser.TheAlwouldstillpickupthestructureofherface.
Noamountofmakeuporhair dyeis goingto foolit.
Johnhesitated,tappinghisfingersagainstthedeskbeforeglancingatme.
Sincewecantfindher,letstry PlanB.
Ialreadyknewwherehewasgoingwiththis.Myjawtightened.theassholethatputusinthissituationIsaidflatly.
Thankfullywhenthefightoccurredtherewerestreetcamerasaroundthatwecouldusetogethisface.
Johnnodded.Ifsheshiding,shesnotdoingitalone.Andifsheis,shewont lastlong.Shellneedhelpeventually.
Hewasright.AndAdrianwouldntwaitforeventually.Runafacialrecognitionscan,Iordered.Findtheguy,trackhismovements.Ifsheswithhim,wellknowsoonenough.

Johnsfingersflewacrossthekeyboard,thescreenshiftingashepulled up animageofthemaninquestion.Afewkeystrokeslater,thescan launched,runningthrougheverypublic andprivatefeedwe Successfullyunlocked! Theroomfellintoatensesilence,brokenonlybytheoccasionalbeep ofthesystemprocessingimages.Icheckedthetime.Adrianwouldntwaitmuchlonger.Ifwedidntfind hersoon…Ididntwanttothinkaboutwhatthatmeantforme.
1/3 CHAPTER025 Asharpbeepfromthemonitor.TheAlhadlockedontosomething.
Johnstiffened.Gothim.
Ileanedoverhisshoulder,myeyesnarrowingatthescreen.Theguy hadbeenspottedtwodaysago,enteringanapartmentcomplex.
Bingo.
Shemightbethere,Imurmured,mymindalreadyworkingthroughthenextsteps.
Johnglancedup.Doyouwanttogoovertherewiththeteam? Notyet.Adriandidntlikehalffinishedjobs.
Keeptrackinghim,Isaid.
Iwanttoknoweverymovehe makes.
Adrianwantedresults.AndIwouldgetthembeforeitwastoolate.
*** ADRIANSPOV ThedayhaddraggedonlongerthanIwanted.Meetingaftermeeting,forcedconversationswithinvestors,numbersthatdidntmeetexpectationsithadallbeenawasteofmytime.IbarelyheardJameswhen hewalkedupbesidemeasIheadedtowardmycar.
Adrian, hesaidcarefully.Letsgrabadrink.You needtogetyourmindoffthings.
Iknewwhat hewastryingtodo.Hethoughtadistractionwouldhelp.Itwouldnt.
Nottoday.

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My voicewassharp,final, Jamessighedbutdidntargue.Heknewbetter.
AsIreachedmycar,mydriver wasalreadywaiting,holdingthedooropenforme.Islidinsidewithoutanotherword,thecoolleatherseatdoing nothingtoeasethe tensioninmyshoulders.
Myphonevibratedinmypocket.Ipulleditout,glancingat thescreen.
Dora.
Iignoredthecall.HermessagesfloodedmyWhatsApp,unreadandunanswered.Whatevershewanted,Ididnthavethepatienceforittoday.
Todaywasntaboutbusiness.Itwasntabouther.
Itwas abouttheonespecialpersonIhadlost.
Thecarridefeltendless.Thecityblurredpastthetintedwindows,thebrightneonlights contrastingagainstthedarknesspressing againstme.Whenwefinallypulledintothedriveway,Ididntwaitforthedrivertoopenthedoor.Isteppedout,mymovementsstiff,mybodyheavy withexhaustionthathadnothingtodowithwork.Iwalked straightintomylibrary,shuttingthedoor behind me.Theroomwasquiet,lined with toweringbookshelvesfilledwithstoriesIneverhadthetimetoread.
2/3 CHAPTER025 Ishruggedoffmysuitjacket,looseningmytieasIpouredmyselfadrink.Thewhiskey I burneddownmythroat,butthefiredidnothingtothawthe iceinmychest.
Onedrinkturnedintotwo.Thenthree.IdidntknowwhenIdriftedoff.Butthen,the dreamsstartedagain.
*FIFTEENYEARSAGO* Icouldstillremembertheexcitementbuzzing inmyveins,thewaymyheartpoundedasIclutchedmyexamresultsinmyhands.Ihaddoneit.Mygradeswereexcellent.Icouldntwaittotellmymother.
Ipracticallyranhome,pushingopenthedoorwithagrinonmyface.
Mom!Icalledout.Silencegreetedme.
Mysmilefalteredslightly,butIbrusheditoff.Hercarwas outside.Shehadtobehome.

Iwalkedfurtherinside,myfootstepsunnaturallyloudagainst thefloor.Somethingfelt wrong.
Icouldntplacewhatitwas.
Ireachedherbedroomdoor.Myhandhesitatedonthehandle.Astrange,heavyfeelingpressedagainstmychest,butI pusheditaside.
Iopenedthe door.Shewassittingbythewindow,holdingaframedphotoofusourfamily.
Somethingtightenedinmystomach.
Mom,Imhome.
Myvoicewassofternow,cautious.
Itooka stepcloser.Then,Inoticedit.Tears.Shewascrying.Istoppedinmytracks.
1 …Areyoualright?Iasked.
Noresponse.
Ihadrarelyseenmymothercry.Shewasastrongwoman,someonewhoneverlet-anythingbreakher.
Sowhy?Whathadhappened? Myfingersclenchedatmysides,uneasecrawlingupmyspine.Andthen,shefinallylookedupatme, Hereyesredrimmed,filledwithsomethingIcouldntunderstand.SomethingIhadneverseenbefore.
Andatthatmoment,Iknew.Somethingwasvery,very wrong.
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