“I have to go,” he whispered, his face pale. “If she finds out I’m here—”

He pulled the door shut, the lock clicking into place before I could say another word.

The sedan shifted into drive and pulled away from the curb, its red taillights disappearing almost instantly into the thick gray mist.

I stood on the sidewalk, my fingers tightly closed around the cold plastic of the USB drive.

My phone vibrated in my pocket.

I pulled it out, the screen glowing bright against the dark street.

It was an alert from the Solar Reach portal.

*Alert: Ownership transfer initiated by third-party lienholder.*

I stared at the screen as a shadow moved near the doorway of our office building.

I turned, my heart hammering against my ribs, looking into the dark fog.

A figure was walking slowly toward me.

The figure stepped out of the shadow of the brick pillar.

It was my father.

He was breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling beneath his dark wool coat.

He carried a large, worn cardboard box in both arms.