The report arrived just after midnight: the Valerius family was gone. Elara had done her job again, clean and on schedule.
I poured the whiskey. Elara always argued, but she finished the work I gave her.
Before I could drink, the lights flickered twice, then died. Red emergency lamps came on as alarms sounded across the command center.
“What is happening?” I turned on the tech chief.
His face had gone grey. Three windows filled his monitor with error text before he could close one.
“I don't know, Don Romano. The financial networks are coming apart. The security grid is collapsing. We need the Madre's master key to stop the cascade.”
Of course it was Elara. Another tantrum meant to force my hand, only larger than the others.
I struck the console with my palm. “Find her. Drag her back
