ROBERT

*A FEW MINUTES EARLIER*

"Please give me a minute, Mr. and Mrs. Charles. I need to double-check on someone." I spoke to the elderly couple before me, my gaze drawn to the Rolex on my wrist.

"Certainly, Mr. Clarke. We'll be patient. The party is still going on, and we're not going anywhere anytime soon." Mr. Charles smiled at me, then returned his attention to his wife and whispered something too quiet for me to hear in her ear.

They then moved away from me and toward the crowded ...