They turned. A man in a tailored charcoal suit was walking toward them with the easy confidence of someone who belonged in the building and knew it. He was in his late forties, clean shaven, with the kind of face that could switch between warmth and calculation so fast you'd never be sure which one was real.Calvin Rhodes extended his hand. "I'm Calvin. Part of the Grant family. I couldn't help noticing you came all this way to show support, and it would be a shame to let that kindness go unacknowledged."Vivian's entire body changed. The stiffness left her spine. The frustration drained from her face. In its place came the radiant, grateful smile of a woman who had just been thrown a lifeline after treading water for an hour."Mr. Rhodes, that is so generous of you." She took his hand with both of hers, squeezing it the way someone clings to a rope they're afraid might slip. "We only wanted to show our support during this terrible time. Your family means so much to the business commu

Raymond Stark stood in front of Calvin's desk with a folder that was embarrassingly thin.Three days of searching. Four investigators. Access to every private database Calvin's money could reach. And the folder held exactly nine pages, most of which contained the same useless information repeated in slightly different fonts."This is everything?" Calvin opened the folder and turned the first page with the slow patience of a man who already knew he was going to be disappointed."Yes, sir." Raymond adjusted his glasses. "Logan Mercer. Age thirty two. Former husband of Vivian Chase. Currently listed as unemployed. No corporate registrations under his name. No real estate holdings. No investment accounts, no trust funds, no board memberships. His digital footprint is practically nonexistent.""A man with no footprint." Calvin turned another page and found a photocopy of an expired driver's license. "People don't just disappear from every system in the city, Raymond. Someone erased him.""

The response was immediate. Within four minutes, three Imperial Group security officers came through the east exit at a pace that was just short of running. Two of them were former military. The third was a man built like a refrigerator with legs who had once worked private security for a diplomatic consulate."Is there a problem here?" The lead officer positioned himself between Emma and the two men, his shoulders squared, his voice carrying the kind of calm authority that made the question rhetorical.Garrett looked at the three officers, then at the security cameras he had just been reminded about, then back at his partner. The calculation behind his eyes took less than two seconds."No problem." Garrett raised his hands and stepped backward. "We were just asking for directions.""Directions." The security officer didn't blink. "I suggest you find them somewhere else. This is private property, and you're not welcome on it."Dennis straightened his jacket without a word, and both me

"We've been looking for him." Sophia put her phone down. "Victor Kane promised to pass a message, but we've heard nothing back.""Then look harder." Dr. Wallace placed his hand on Sophia's arm. "Because every doctor on that list of yours is going to tell you the same thing. They'll review the scans, shake their heads, and recommend making him comfortable. Logan is the only option left, Sophia. I believe that with everything I have."Sophia stared at the old doctor for a long moment. Then she turned to Derek, who was standing six feet away pretending he hadn't been listening."Drop everything else." Sophia's voice carried the steel of someone who had just decided to stop negotiating with reality. "Every resource we have goes toward finding Logan. I don't care what it costs. I don't care who you have to call. Find him before tonight."Derek nodded and disappeared around the corner at a pace that was closer to running than walking.From the far end of the corridor, Calvin Rhodes watched

The private investigator's report arrived on Vivian's phone at eleven in the morning, and by eleven fifteen she was already calling Ashley."I told you." Vivian sat at her vanity mirror, scrolling through the document with one hand and fixing her earring with the other. "Everything I've been saying for months is right here in black and white. Logan Mercer has nothing. No assets, no company, no investments, no property. The man is a blank page with legs.""So what was all that business with Victor Kane?" Ashley's voice crackled through the speaker, already half laughing. "The bowing, the respect, the whole performance at the gala?""A misunderstanding." Vivian snapped the earring into place and admired herself in the mirror. "Victor probably mistook him for someone else. Or Logan begged for a favor and Victor felt sorry for him the way you'd feel sorry for a stray cat that keeps showing up at your door looking pathetic.""That's generous." Ashley giggled. "I wouldn't even feel sorry fo