I glanced at the clock on the wall. 2 a.m. was hours away, and I had a name, a motive, and a target: the 24th floor of the Gorgon, where a private party was scheduled for a handful of high‑profile investors. Barbie Rous was expected to be there— she never missed a chance to showcase her latest acquisition.
Renata turned, the faint glow of a monitor behind her reflecting her face. The screen displayed a single line of code scrolling: Private.24.07.04.Barbie.Rous.And.Renata.Fox.Gon...
The night stretched on, the rain finally easing into a mist. I walked back to my office, the city’s neon now a softer hue. I placed the chip into a locked drawer, its surface cold against my palm. I didn’t know what the future held for Project GON, but I knew one thing: the world would always need a private eye to keep the shadows from swallowing the light. I glanced at the clock on the wall
“Fine,” I said. “Give me the details.” Barbie Rous was expected to be there— she
“I’m not a stranger,” I replied, sliding a thin, black card from my pocket. “I’m the man Renata hired.”