Hide and seek

When the van rolled into the guarded compound two streets away, Ethan flicked off the lights and killed the engine. He lingered for a second, tasting the strange air of triumph that rises after a plan executes without immediate failure. This was a victory born of calculation, not a blunt blow. The gates answered the security code with a soft click, and the van moved into a driveway where stone and glass met in quiet opulence.

Ayisha turned to the backseat. “It’s all ...