“The files are safe,” I said.

Outside, the man in the raincoat tapped on the window again.

This time, he used the barrel of a pistol.

Adrian lowered his window just an inch.

The cold, wet air rushed into the warm cabin.

It carried the scent of wet asphalt and ozone.

“Tell Vance he is too late,” Adrian said into the gap.

The man outside did not move.

He leaned closer to the glass.

“We know about the files, Mr. Romano,” the man said.

His voice was muffled by the wind.

“But Marcus is not worried about the files anymore,” he added.

My stomach dropped.

Adrian frowned, his finger resting near the trigger of his gun.

“What does that mean?” Adrian asked.

“You should check your personal line, Ms. Parker,” the man said.

He stepped back from the car.

He raised his hands in a mocking gesture of surrender.

He and his partner walked back to their vehicle.

Their boots splashed in the deep puddles on the road.

The red warning on our dashboard suddenly disappeared.

The engine roared back to life with a low growl.