Back at Phoenix HQ, Camellia stared at her screen as an unusual pattern popped up in the system logs.

Rachel entered the room.

“You’re still digging?”

“There’s a double key signature on the Ash List upload,” Camellia murmured.

“Which means?”

“Someone triggered a shadow relay after Sophie activated the drop.”

rachel leaned in.

“From inside?”

Camellia nodded. “Either someone accessed the Ash List at the same time—or they were waiting for it.”

Rachel’s jaw tightened. “Then the mole isn’t just old.”

“He’s current.”

Alexander returned from a policy brunch alone. The car felt too quiet. The driver — unfamiliar.

He sent a text to his security chief.

“New rotation today?”...