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cam-shot and scrolled down the details beneath as Ellis looked over his shoulder.
    ‘Bruno Teischen. Fifty-four. Arms dealer. Made his first money supplying both sides in the Bosnian war. Since then he's gone more global: Chad , Kosovo , Nicaragua , Rwanda .’
    ‘What category?’ Ellis enquired.
    ‘Nothing on VICAP. Category 6 with CIA and NSA. High risk.’
    ‘Okay. Let's find out why.’
    Behind them the room was still busily sifting through numerous street-cam videos. As Ellis left Aaron's desk, Josh Eskovitz grabbed his attention.
    ‘You know that girl we viewed on a Pittsfield cam three days back?’
    ‘Yeah.’
    ‘Well, she's suddenly disappeared.’ Josh’s expression was taut. ‘Parents haven't seen her, no show at school, no contact. Nothing .’
    Ellis's brow knitted. ‘Hopefully she's just gone AWOL with a new boyfriend and will show again in a day or two.’
    ‘Hopefully. But now we've got a fresh problem: we've found another girl in nearby Williamstown.
    Bruno Teischen sat back in the foyer leather chair, pensive.
    ‘Looks like you've put some thought into this. Supply one side to increase demand the other. You obviously know how I like working.’
    Alex smiled thinly. ‘Like you say: I've put some thought into this.’
    ‘But what about your father? After that last Senate Committee hearing, I thought he'd agreed not to deal with certain nations?’
    ‘Don't worry about my father. He's not too well right now. He'll be handing over the reins soon.’
    ‘Yes. But wouldn't that normally be to your older brother, John?’ Teischen held a palm out. ‘And he'd likely follow more your father's line.’
    ‘Don't worry about my brother either. Right now he's under investigation over the Andrew's air crash. My father will be forced to sideline him...’
    Alex leant forward as he filled in the details.
    Rob Lorimar looked back across the table at Ryan. ‘So – don't forget to check with your mom about maybe coming down to Atlanta .’
    ‘No, I won't. And maybe you can hire a Winnebago while I'm down too –  relive some of the old times.’
    Rob took a second to catch on that his son was ribbing. He chuckled. ‘Glad I'm not the only one a sucker for nostalgia. Otherwise might make me feel –’ Rob mulled his mouth with feigned distaste. ‘ – old .
    But Ryan had half switched-off as for the first time he got a clear view of Alex Culverton across the foyer, and saw something he’d hoped not to see again: a misty apparition swirling inside Culverton: half-angel, half-demon, along with a cacophony of garbled voices.
    The demon's eyes shifted to lock on him – and a second later the man stared at him directly too, brow creasing.
    The man muttered something to two men with him, and Ryan’s heart leapt into his mouth as they looked his way and started towards him.  
    Ryan gripped his father's arm, who turned as Ryan hastily back-stepped.
    The men moved with more purpose, and Rob Lorimer got up to block them, one hand held out.
    ‘Hey – what the hell you doing?’
    Coby barged him aside as Rami alongside pulled his gun.
       Ryan ran.

 
    SEVEN
    ...To the far side of the foyer and through to the adjoining restaurant.
       Ryan looked back halfway across the restaurant, hoping that its tightly grouped tables and the fact that it was busy might deter the two men from following. But they were in full flight in pursuit: a diner who got in the way was pushed aside, another table toppled over with a crash of cutlery.
       Startled protests and shouts arose, but the two men seemed oblivious.
       Ryan ran on int0 the kitchen. Hectic and noisy. Copious billows of steam rising, the clatter of pans and the frantic shouts between chefs and sous chefs were now directed at him.
       He ignored them, weaved past one waiter lifting a tray and a sous-chef juggling a pan over a high flame. One chef decided to be more vocal and obstructive as the two men chasing him burst into the kitchen.
       ‘What in