As twilight deepened, Kasra drew Lara, Katherine, and Kimi aside, his eyes sweeping the corridor to ensure privacy. “How about we head to a café to discuss the case?”

  Katherine hesitated, an idea sparking. “How about my dad’s place? I need to pick up Seven’s things.”

  “Sounds good. What’s the address?”

  “919 Bellview Road. See you there,” Katherine said.

  ……

  Twenty minutes later, the group converged at 919 Bellview Road. The familiar house loomed before Katherine, stirring a pang of nostalgia. Her fingers trembled slightly as she punched in the passcode on the digital padlock. With a gentle click and a soft, melodic chime, the door swung open. She left it ajar, flicked on the light, bathing the cozy living room in a warm glow before heading into the kitchen to consider refreshments.

  She returned to find her guests settled comfortably on the plush sofas, the room’s familiarity easing the tension.

  “Help yourselves,” she said, setting a tray of drinks on the coffee table before settling beside Lara.

  “Kasra, ready to start?”

  Kasra inclined his head, his hands clasped, demeanor focused. “Sana joined Data Dynamics earlier this year. Her secretary started three months prior. Besides Lara, she’s the only one privy to Sana’s movements, making her the prime suspect for leaking her flight details.”

  Katherine’s brow furrowed, absorbing the revelation. “What’s her name? How did she get hired?”

  “Wendy May. She aced the recruitment tests,” Kasra answered briskly.

  Katherine leaned back, fingers drumming the armrest as she pondered. “Could someone with access to the airline manifest have leaked Sana’s itinerary instead?”

  A flicker of surprise crossed Kasra’s face. He tilted his head, considering the angle. “I hadn’t thought of that. Sana used a private jet from a Dynamics Group terminal, but it’s worth exploring.”

  “What’s the terminal’s name?”

  “Jetset Aviation.”

  “Got it. I’ll check if they’ll cooperate with our investigation,” Katherine said, mentally mapping the next steps.

  “My cousin runs Jetset. I’ll reach out to him,” Kasra offered.

  “Perfect,” Katherine chirped, sensing the momentum building.

  A thoughtful silence settled over the group before Katherine fixed Kimi with a piercing stare. “Kimi, do we have enough to request a wiretap on Wendy May?”

  Kimi’s brows lifted, his confidence palpable. “Absolutely. I’ll have the draft ready by tomorrow morning.”

  “Fantastic! Thanks, Kimi.”

  Then, another thought struck her. “Kasra, does Wendy have access to sensitive documents?”

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  The Shahi brothers exchanged a glance, impressed by her acuity. “No,” Kasra replied. “Secretaries don’t handle sensitive information: it’s digital and password-protected.”

  “Right,” Katherine said, her thoughts sharpening. “Otherwise, Cloche wouldn’t have needed to kidnap Sana.”

  Lara, pensive, ventured a theory. “Do you think Cloche would use Wendy again?”

  Kasra’s fingers tapped his knee, his mind turning. “We won’t know until we test her. Does Sana have any upcoming events?”

  Lara scrolled through Sana’s calendar on her phone. “Her e-sports team reached the quarterfinals. That’s in New York, from the 20th to the 23rd. But with her injury, they’ve called in a sub. Her next work event is November 10th—the 5G and Edge Accelerator Alliance commencement ceremony.”

  Katherine stared into the distance, strategizing. “Three weeks out… prime opportunity to lure Cloche out.”

  “Let’s confirm details with Sana before planning further. If there’s nothing else, we’ll regroup tomorrow,” Kasra suggested.

  ……

  As the trio stepped into the cool night air, Kasra turned to Lara, his inflection softening to an intimate murmur. “Lara, come home with me tonight.”

  Lara nodded obediently, missing the suggestive undertone. “Yes, Chief.”

  Kasra’s lips curled into a rare, playful smirk. “Forgotten already?”

  Lara blinked, confused. “What, Chief?”

  “Call me ‘Kas’ or ‘brother,’” he teased, his gaze smoldering.

  Lara wavered in her reply. “Yes, b-brother.”

  Kasra’s slate-gray irises glinted. “With more conviction!”

  “Yes, brother!” Lara repeated, firmer this time.

  Kimi, caught in their ambiguous exchange, felt a prickle crawl up his spine. He quickened his pace toward his fiery red Ferrari Portofino, eager to escape the awkward moment.

  ……

  At The Cliffs, the brothers were startled to see their parents emerging from the garage, stepping out from their sleek, limited-edition Aston Martin DBS.

  Ami’s features brightened when she spotted Lara exiting Kasra’s Lamborghini Urus Performante. “Lara dear!” she called out playfully. “Are you moving in with us now?”

  Lara’s brows knitted. “Uh… we just came from Kate’s. Chief told me to stay here tonight.”

  Ami’s eyes gleamed mischievously. “Aren’t you posing as Sana? Shouldn’t you stay here, then? And why do you keep calling him ‘Chief’?”

  Kasra chimed in, “Mom’s right. You’ve slipped back to ‘Chief’ already. This role will last for months, and you might need to appear publicly with Mom, so start calling her that too.”

  Lara winced inwardly, chiding herself for the lapse. “Y–Yes, brother,” she stammered, “I’ll grab my essentials from my apartment tomorrow.”

  “Wonderful! Kasra, help her move in tomorrow,” Ami demanded.

  Kasra grunted, catching his mother’s intent to ship them, then shifted topics. “Mom, why’re you and Dad back so late?”

  “Your mother was craving something sweet, so we slipped out for an impromptu date at Magnolia Dessert Bar,” Sadra replied instead as he glanced at his wife, who was lost in the thought of Lara’s impending move.

  Sadra’s expression turned stern. “Son, you could stand to be more spontaneous. You think that stone-cold face of yours will win you a wife? You’re nearly 30, killing it in the boardroom but hopeless in romance. You can’t dodge it forever, you know.”

  Kasra shook his head, exasperated, regretting his question. But Sadra, noticing Ami’s lifted mood, paused mid-rant, a sly smile spreading across his face. Perhaps I’d get lucky tonight, he thought.

  Kasra exhaled, relieved that his father’s sermon had ended.

  Ami looped her arm through Lara’s, guiding her toward the mansion’s grand entrance with a warmth that felt like home. “Lara, we moved in three weeks ago. Have you been inside?”

  “No, Mom. I only dropped Sana off or picked her up during the renovations,” Lara clarified.

  Ami glowed, delighted at being called ‘Mom.’ “The guest rooms are in the upper and lower basements. The two in the west wing are furnished, while the six in the east wing are new and bare. Pick whichever you like.”

  Lara smiled warmly. “Sure, Mom.”

  Then, Ami turned to her son. “Kasra, show Lara to the west wing guest rooms in the upper basement. Tell the housekeeper to prepare the bed and bring fresh clothes, towels, and toiletries.”

  Kasra nodded, arranging things as he led Lara inside. “Choose a room and be ready by 7:30 tomorrow. The housekeeper will be here soon. Need anything else for tonight?”

  “No, I’m good. Thanks, brother,” Lara answered, more naturally this time.

  “G’night, Lara,” Kasra called, his lips curled with subtle amusement.

  “G’night, brother.”