Book 3: Chapter 1

The building was nondescript from the outside, as plain as any other warehouse in the area. The windows had been blacked out with bars across them, which wasn’t an uncommon practice these days. There had been several break-ins over the last six months, most of them some sort of smash-and-grab.

Arnaud knew differently, though. To any passing observer, he was on a smoke break. In truth, he was watching the gated entrance of the facility and keeping an eye out for trouble. The smash and grabs had been perpetuated by his own team in order to buy or rent out as many of the buildings as possible. These were largely left empty, for the people he worked for didn’t traffic in material goods or possessions. Their tastes were far more refined and best handled away from prying eyes.

“Southeast, checking in.” The voice in Arnaud’s earpiece was soft, as if the words had been little more than a whisper. He waited as each man on patrol reported in, then flicked the ash from his cigarett