vered, did not announ

hand tightening around the throat while

t, she walked into the office to fi

ked. Not

la

he security gate hesitated before opening. T

the woman said

did

She didn't escalat

ok the

essages she distinctly remembered flagging the night before. Her calendar ha

l th

ional

y, pulse controlled. Whoever was testing her

to see whether

di

lked straight t

y standing wh

lt it,"

es

r to sit, but she

he said. "Not enough to cause d

"They're mapping

urs," s

w tigh

he said

rned back to her with a look she had never seen before-focuse

icipated," he said. "Which means ei

her arms. "W

t answer i

e told her

he said

es

n was clean.

remove me,

snapped to

ically, it's sound. Distance me. Red

er, his presence

ty," he said. "And worse-it wo

e. "And keeping m

tells them I don't y

they pus

. "Then they'll r

ted. "At w

idn't

o, was a

ion came tha

lert lit up her screen-an unauthorized request f

fr

she m

d her personal files, and walked swi

n't get

cepted her in

Neutral suits. Professional smiles

said pleasantly.

nstincts

" she repl

other said. "This

y-toward a glass-walled conference room. A

the door

e first man said, folding his ha

said n

ur... alignment," the second continued. "Specificall

hill spread th

uss my employ

smi

t asking a

e pres

ou want?"

ood has enemies. Powerful ones. People who beli

k I'm leverag

idn't

ntly. "Which means you're not in

ck in her chair

tilted his h

ould respond,

kwood sto

in the room dr

ing is ove

surprised-but

ere j

shed. His voice was calm. Dead

xchanged

l," one said carefu

miled

s personal. And you've

y l

oor c

ce ro

slowly, he

't have come

o her. "Yes.

d. "You expo

a boundary,

ropped. "Yo

pression

se con

n't bel

er di

Ellie was es

ally. Not

her outside the buildin

eed this,"

replied.

ated, the

was silen

ke. "You've cr

ook at her. "

t have to

d

hy

se allowing them to touch you would h

th caugh

late people a

ared a

n't?" she a

looke

e said. "Not

ar sl

ing shift irrever

inue," she said.

kno

at are w

the first time, he didn't

justing t

tment was

ally "for security review." The residen

primar

ot ne

ng in the space. Clean lines. Mini

appropriate

tical," To

e will

alread

ly. "You're risking reputa

" he

dropped.

ent," he said

oser. "Say it

eld he

ou," h

m like a declaration neither

ay awake in a guest room

tood the s

onger adjace

side its b

Todd Blackwood-had just proven that when forced to cho

ld cho

edge was e

errif

e watching them w

ould e

move would