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My blood went cold.
“How in the fuck,” I said slowly, “does anyone get close enough to take photos inside a fourth-floor apartment unless they’re already in there?”
“Drone twenty feet from the window,” Jase replied.
Chloe made a small sound, barely more than a breath.
“There’s a communal greenspace behind the building,” Jase went on. “Kids play there. Dog walkers. People cutting through. A guy flying a drone doesn’t stand out. Looks like a hobbyist. He didn’t hover—just quick passes. In and out.”
I turned to Chloe.
Her arms were crossed tight, hands gripping each elbow like she was holding herself together by force alone. Her eyes were fixed somewhere past the wall, unfocused.
“My blinds were open,” she whispered. “I always leave them open. The southern exposure is best for drawing.”
The guilt hit hard and fast, like a knee to the gut.
I slid my arm around her shoulders and pulled her against me. She came to me instantly, folding into my side, her head resting against my chest like she needed to feel something solid.
“This isn’t on you,” I said quietly. “Not even a little bit.”
She nodded once, but didn’t speak.
“Zoe’s fine,” Jase added. “She only noticed their guy at the grocery store. She said she never clocked us.”
“How do you know what was on their film from the drone?” Chloe asked.
“They had to download it. It was easy enough for Code to grab.”
Chloe looked at me for confirmation. I just shrugged. I didn’t know how these guys did things like that anymore than she did.
“And now?” Chloe asked softly.
There was a brief silence on the line.
“Now,” Simon said, “we wait for Maurice to call Zarek. Remember, we’re monitoring your phone. Any relevant calls that come in. we’ll be listening.”
“I’m hoping it’s not Maurice, because we’ve tracked him as far as we can,” Code said. “It be nice to get fresh blood.”
My mouth soured. I wished he hadn’t used that phrase.
“Okay, now you know what we do,” Simon said, ending the call. “Now we wait.”
The clock on the wall ticked loudly. I stared at my phone like it might light up if I just stared at it hard enough.
It did.
Eight o’clock on the dot.
Maurice.
I swiped and put it on speaker for Chloe’s benefit.
“Post,” Maurice said smoothly. “You got a minute?”
Chloe went very still.
“What’s up,” I said, keeping my voice even.
