(Reese)
The compound was louder than I expected when we got back.
Not chaotic. Just busy in a way that felt different from this morning. Men moving faster. Conversations shorter. The yard had a particular energy to it that I was starting to recognize, the kind that meant something had shifted while we were gone.
Noah didn't stop to explain it.
He walked me to my room, said stay here, and left before I could argue. I stood in the middle of the room for a second and then I did the only thing that made sense. I sat down, opened my laptop, and got back to work.
Simone had sent four emails while I was at the office.
I read them in order. The venue had confirmed Thursday's walkthrough but needed a final headcount by end of day. The press coordinator wanted to push two interviews to the fol
