Fifteen Hours Remaining
The meeting place Shadow chose was deliberately public: a busy market square in downtown San Miguel, surrounded by tourists and vendors.
"If this is a trap, at least there are witnesses," Victoria said, scanning the crowd through binoculars from their hotel window.
Sophie studied her tablet, analyzing patterns in the crowd movements that normal observers wouldn't notice.
"Shadow is already there. Third café from the left. Teenager, maybe sixteen. Sitting alone but watching everything."
"How do you know it's Shadow?" Marcus asked.
"Because they're doing exactly what I would do. Positioned with multiple exit routes, monitoring everyone who enters the square, displaying enhanced situational awareness."
Aria gripped her daughter's hand. "You're not going alone."
