The files arrived just after eight in the morning. Not in a dramatic steel briefcase.
Not with armed guards. Not even with a warning. They arrived in three ordinary cardboard boxes carried by two exhausted civil servants who looked as though they had spent the entire night arguing with photocopiers.
Sebastian was halfway through breakfast when Elena entered the private dining room.
One look at her face told him something was wrong. Or interesting.
With Elena, the difference was usually difficult to identify.
She sat down without invitation.
"Good morning."
Sebastian looked over his coffee cup.
"That depends." Elena pointed toward the door.
"You have visitors." "I hope not."
"You do" "Can I refuse?"
"No."
"Then I definitely don't want to see them."
Elena smiled.
"That's unfortunate."
A few minutes later he followed her downstairs. The two civil servants immediately stood when he entered.
