Present Day - Thursday Afternoon
The Sheep Meadow stretches out like a green sea in the heart of Manhattan, but Aria sees only the shadows where someone could be hiding.
She sits on a bench, checking her watch for the fifth time in ten minutes.
2:07 PM.
The mysterious contact is late.
Around her, New Yorkers enjoy the autumn afternoon. Couples sharing picnics, children playing frisbee, tourists taking photos.
Normal people living normal lives while she sits here like a target.
Marcus had begged her not to come.
Sophie had cried when Aria dropped her off at school this morning, sensing something was wrong even if she couldn't name it.
But forty-seven families are depending on the money that Leon stole and hid.
Money that could rebuild their lives.
Money that might be worth the ri
