Liam’s eyes hadn’t left the monitor. Fourth playthrough. CCTV from Bellucci’s. Grainy. Time stamp: 11:09 AM. He watched Klaus slide into Daisy’s chair. Watched Chloe’s back go rigid. Heard her voice, sharp: _“Excuse me, I’m waiting for someone.”_ He’d laughed then. Actually laughed. A short, ugly sound in the empty office. She was a cornered kitten, hissing, claws out. No fear. Just fire. But after Klaus said his name, the audio went to hell. Muffled. Like someone dragged cotton through the mic. Lips moving, no words. Klaus leaning in. Chloe’s face — pale, then white. _They left this for me. But they cut the end. Why?_ Liam spun his chair, lit a cigarette. Inhaled deep. Blew smoke at the ceiling. The office was already a cloud chamber. One more wouldn’t kill him. His fingers found the mous
