“I already have,” Elaine said. “For four years, I played the sympathetic country doctor while managing the syndicate’s local assets. I am very good at my job, Nora.”

“I know,” I said.

I reached into my pocket, but instead of pulling out the drive, I pulled out my hand and let it drop to my side.

“But you made one mistake,” I said.

Elaine frowned, her grip on the gun tightening.

“What’s that?” she asked.

“You talked too much,” I said.

From the darkness of the adjacent corridor, a heavy footstep sounded.

Elaine’s head snapped toward the noise, her flashlight beam swinging wildly.

“Who’s there?” she demanded, her voice losing its calm.

Damon stepped out of the shadows, his face set in a hard, expressionless mask.

“Put the gun down, Elaine,” he said.

Elaine took a step back, her pistol shaking as she pointed it at Damon.

“Damon,” she gasped. “How—”

“Marcus has already secured the perimeter,” Damon said, his voice cold and steady. “You are completely alone.”

“Don’t come any closer,” she warned, her finger tightening on the trigger. “I’ll shoot her.”