Page 156 of Mercy Written in Blood

Haruki placed the photograph inside his coat. Kael's hand closed around his wrist. Fast. Cold. Haruki did not flinch. The Accord officers noticed. So did Reina. Her weapon remained lowered, but only technically.

Kael released him.

"You endangered everyone who came with you."

"The site was empty."

"It was prepared."

"For us."

"Yes."

The admission silenced the room. Haruki studied him.

"You knew it was a trap."

"I suspected."

"And allowed us to receive the coordinates."

"We did not send them."

"That wasn't what I said."

Kael's jaw tightened.

"You were being observed before the message arrived."

Haruki felt the words settle.

"How long?"

"We do not know."

"Days?"

"No."

"Weeks?"

Kael looked towards the office. The black folder remained on the desk.

"Yes."

Haruki's hand closed inside his coat, around the edge of the photograph.

"Since the tunnels?"

"Possibly before."

Ken swore quietly. Reina looked towards the covered windows. The warehouse no longer felt empty. It felt occupied by absence. Every cleaned surface became evidence of what had been removed seconds, minutes or hours before they arrived. Every route they had taken to reach it could have been predicted.

The anonymous message had not led them to a clue. It had demonstrated control. The Unveiled knew what Haruki would do. They knew he would ignore Kael. Knew which people he would bring. Knew how quickly they could reach the district. They had calculated the time required to clear the site and left only what they wanted him to see.

Haruki looked towards the mezzanine.

"Whoever threw the flash device stayed behind."