(Noah)
The SUV kept north through evening traffic, smooth and deliberate, never fast enough to draw attention and never slow enough to get trapped in it. Whoever was behind the wheel knew how to move through the city without leaving an easy pattern to follow. I stayed back with two cars between us whenever I could and let lights create distance when they helped. Patience mattered more than proximity when the man ahead believed he was careful.
The river district rose in front of us, all glass towers, restored brick, and money pretending it had cleaner origins than it did. Years ago it had been loading docks and warehouses. Now it was private clubs, rooftop lounges, and restaurants where men lied over expensive plates. Cities liked repainting old sins and selling them back as progress.
Th
