Beneath The Embers.

of Marco Design Group. The building loomed like a shadow against the pale gray sky, sha

scanned the space. Sleek black marble. A spiral staircase of steel. W

om behind a stone counter.

d. "But Marco Le

one, murmured something quickly, and ges

oof yet, but her instinct told her the man she was about to face wasn't just a talented

alist office, sunlight filt

her, staring at a blueprint

'd show up eventually,

asantries," Helena rep

shoulder, eyes narrowing as

a printed copy of the email o

onymous tips? I get them a

it mentioned you. Said I'd find somet

something passed over his face, une

h this building, he said cal

r. "Then you won't m

d sharply. "This is

you've got nothing to h

their eyes locked fire again

. So

co said, voice low. You think ever

snapped. Five building

Police cleared me. Insurance cleared me

. Always hovering near

said. You're not a cop anymore

a fli

Your house fire... it wasn't

ists. "Don't pretend to

know grief. And I know when some

ewall me all you want. But I will find out what you're hiding. An

quiet but firm. "B

it. But the weight of t

something unreadabl

d out, heart hammering, a

here to corn

o? He wasn't

ena was holding the key she j

game, I hope it get over

s so quiet now, rain dripping down like snow. She kept her coat tight against the wind and duc

op, her notepad, the blueprints-every piece of Marco Leo file she'd gathered over

he said her name. In the warning he'd give

side the coffee shop, hoodie drawn up against th

lted o

he calle

orner. She followed,

gone. But a piece of paper flutte

icked

n rough bl

GING OR

looked around-no sign of

to the coffee shop. Her hands trembled as she open

to go

. The contractors. The

o. Someone who didn't wa

sn't just her

k a

ds and permit filings. She hit on something odd-a shell company connect

er caught fire. But more importantly, it had ties to a

raced. Disappeared after

ack, hear

bigger th

ptop screen as a new

n, she caught he

fe

rmin