“Come on,” I say, gripping Elyssa’s arm and towing her down the street behind the couple.
I turn on my earpiece again, and after a moment of static, I hear Matvei’s shallow breathing.
“Phoenix?” he asks. “Are you back? Everything okay?”
“There’s a crowd. Gonna turn this thing off. It’s distracting.”
“Since when? Wait, hold up, don’t—”
I turn it off and pick up the speed. There are too many pieces in play for me to jeopardize this plan by backing out now. I don’t know when I’ll have another crack at Sakamoto.
It’s too late to back down now.
The moment we enter the hotel lobby, the woman in the emerald dress heads for the elevators with her husband.
“What’s the plan?” Elyssa asks nervously.
I don’t answer. But I do snatch a glass of sparkling water from a tray sitting in the foyer o
