Chapter One: Beyond Seven Minutes

He alone was sharp, staring toward the gutter where Shen Yan had found the flash. His watch reflected a backward message: DO NOT TAKE THE SECOND PICTURE. The doorbell rang. The hallway was empty. On the floor lay a silver-gray envelope bearing Shen Yan's name. It contained a clipping from a 1927 newspaper and a black card. The front read: GU CHANGZHOU. On the back: “The seven minutes have already been sold. Keep the remainder safe.”