Chapter 71

The morning light filtered through the blinds in Julian’s office, casting thin beams across the room as he reviewed the leads Ophelia had given them. Despite her unwilling cooperation, Julian sensed she had only offered them breadcrumbs—just enough to make her appear valuable, but not enough to dismantle the entire web she had constructed. Erica sat across from him, the faintest trace of exhaustion under her eyes, though she looked focused as ever.

“Any thoughts?” Julian asked, glancing up from the files.

She leaned forward, tracing a finger along the network map of names and connections they had sketched out together. “She’s giving us pieces, but we’re still missing the center,” Erica said. “All these small players are shielding someone bigger. And if we don’t find that person…”

Julian nodded grimly. “Her empire rebuilds itself. Ophelia might be the face of this operation, but I don’t think she’s the one pulling all the strings.”

A knock on the door interrupted them. Nolan, one of Ju