Morning came soft and grey over the villa. Rain had started in the night and left the garden smelling clean and wild. Mara watched the drops run down the balcony rail and felt the villa press in around her like a living thing.

She had learned names here.

The security room was packed with monitors displaying grainy images of driveways and paths. People moved about like pieces on a chessboard. In the center of it all stood Elias, arms crossed, observing everything around him with a serious gaze ...