“And I think I’m starting to see patterns.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Such as?”
She leans closer, her voice dropping. “The Russians cluster together. The Japanese and Koreans stay on opposite sides of the room. The Italians by the far wall keep watching you whenever they think you’re not looking.”
My pulse quickens. She’s observant. Dangerously so.
“The man in the gray suit by the auction table—he’s been talking to the police commissioner all evening, even though they’re pretending not to know each other.”
I smile, impressed despite myself. “Very good. What else?”
She turns to face me fully, those green eyes bright with intelligence. “Everyone here treats you with respect. Some with fear. But all of them want something from you.”
The air between us crackles with tension. I step closer, d
