Chapter 36: Hidden hand
"She needs to sign—"
Vincent acted fast.
He reached into his wallet, pulling out an old clipboard he always kept handy for this sort of improvisation. A forged authorization note with Claire's printed name and a near-perfect copy of her signature was already clipped to it. He handed it over.
The courier frowned, looked between Vincent and the paper, then sighed. "Fine. Tight schedule anyway."
He handed over the envelope. "Make sure she gets it, yeah?"
Vincent gave a tight-lipped smile. "Of course."
The moment the courier vanished down the street, Vincent slipped into the alley beside the building. The envelope burned in his palm like it was laced with fire. Whatever was inside, someone wanted Claire to know something—something that would jeopardize everything.
He ducked behind a dumpster and tore the pouch open.
Inside was a single sheet of thick paper. Handwritten. Anonymous. No sender, no seal.
The words were scrawled in ink, urgent and ragged:
