Troy drove him again the next morning.
The routine had already settled into something tight and wordless. Alex got into the car, answered when spoken to, and watched the city pass without comment. At the curb Troy only said, “Text me when you’re done,” and waited until Alex had disappeared into the building before pulling away.
Alex felt the watch like a second shadow all day.
He attended his classes. He answered a short message from Kevin without giving anything away. He ignored the partnership channel until he had no choice, then replied in the dry, professional language Troy had already approved once before. Every time his phone lit up he checked the name first.
Near the end of the afternoon a new message appeared.
**Stolas:**
There’s a quiet corner in the old stacks on the four
