Hunter was brought up from the lower level a moment later, his face pale and tear-stained.

He looked at me, his eyes pleading.

“Evelyn, please,” he whispered as they led him past. “I had to do it. My father was going to disinherit me.”

“You made your choice, Hunter,” I said.

He looked down, his shoulders slumping as they pushed him into the elevator.

The penthouse suite grew quiet, save for the hum of the air conditioner and the rustle of papers as the agents continued their work.

I stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out over the grey city.

My phone vibrated in my pocket.

I pulled it out and looked at the screen.

It was an email notification from the university’s office of the provost.

The subject line read: *Emergency Session of the Academic Senate.*

My fingers hovered over the screen.

I opened the email.

The text was short, but it contained a PDF attachment with a list of names.

At the very top of the list was Dr. Sterling.

My phone began to ring, the screen lighting up with a number I did not recognize.