Chapter 174

• GUSTAVO
• Dawn light came through the study windows in thin streaks, catching on the oak panels and throwing long shadows across the desk. I sat there with the laptop open, security feeds playing on silent. Steam rose from the black coffee in front of me. I hadn’t touched it yet. My eyes stayed glued to the screen.
• The clip from last night loaded again. Valentina stepping out of Adrian’s building. Rain coming down hard. Her coat pulled tight. Head down. Hurried steps like she couldn’t get away fast enough. Or like she didn’t want to be seen. The timestamp said eleven forty-three. Late. Too late for a quick talk.