The silence after Andrew Collins left felt suffocating.
Damian stood in the middle of Kendrick's office, staring at the closed door as if it might open again. As if the investigator might step back inside and calmly announce that the entire encounter had been a misunderstanding.
That he had guessed wrong.
That nothing had been confirmed.
But deep down, both of them knew better.
Kendrick moved first.
He walked slowly toward the window, his posture rigid, his jaw tight. From the outside, he looked composed. Controlled. The same disciplined executive everyone expected him to be.
Inside, his thoughts were moving rapidly.
Victor Hale would know soon.
Maybe within minutes.
Andrew Collins was not the type to delay reporting critical discoveries. He would call immediately. He would present his conclusions clearly. He would recommend action.
And Victor would act.
Damian finally exhaled.
"Well," he said weakly.
"That went horribly."
Kendrick did not answer immediately.
