Several hours had slipped by since Don had dropped Ash off near the SHU campus gates.
Now he stood inside one of the upper suites of a penthouse building hugging the coastline, its glass and steel facade gleaming under the fading afternoon light.
One entire wing of the structure still bore the scars of the recent chaos the city suffered, scaffolding wrapped around shattered windows and scorched concrete, workers in hard hats moving with cautious efficiency even as the sun dipped lower.
The suite itself served as Charles's temporary residence, a space stripped of his usual flamboyant excess.
Modern minimalist lines dominated instead: clean black leather recliners positioned around a low glass table, abstract metal sculptures catching the light from floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the restless ocean, and recessed lighting that cast long, cool shadows across pale walls.
