The board reached Riven's residence at six in the morning.
Cole received the notification at six-eleven and came to the kitchen where Darius and I had been since five — the specific pre-dawn quality of people who have not slept well and have stopped pretending to try.
He set his phone on the island.
"He's gone," he said.
The kitchen was very quiet.
"Gone," Darius said.
"The residence is empty," Cole said. "The board's team arrived at six. The building was vacated. Staff present — he didn't take them. Personal effects — some missing, most left. Vehicle gone." He held Darius's gaze. "He knew they were coming."
"How long had he been gone?" Darius said.
"The staff says he left before midnight," Cole said. "Which means he had approximately six hours before the board's arrival."
"He rec
