Gary watched the car idle in front of the gate, posture still, eyes alert. It didn't attempt entry. Just sat there, engine low, headlights off. Then the driver's door opened.
Gary glanced down at the pad in his hands and tapped through a few menus. The static feed blinked, then resolved into a narrow visual window aimed toward the road. He pinched two fingers together, zooming in once. Then again. He held it steady on his lap.
A man stepped out.
Gary frowned—not with alarm, but mild recognition. The face didn't immediately land. He triggered facial recognition the moment the dashboard camera locked on.
Data scrolled.
Name. Affiliation. Clearance history.
"Oh," Gary muttered.
His shoulders loosened slightly. Whatever this was, it wasn't an emergency. His concern didn't vanish—it just shifted shape. Benjamin could be handled.
Outside, Benjamin adjusted his cuffs as he leaned back against the hood of his car. He wore a suit, tailored well enough, but the blazer was missing.
