The Raid That Made Him Famous

The first agent held up a badge. The second looked at Ethan like he already knew where the exits were and did not care. "Marcus Vale?" the first agent said. Marcus stood slowly, with the offended dignity of a man interrupted by weather. "This is a private dinner." "Not anymore." Nobody moved. The agent's eyes shifted to Priya, then Ethan. "You are free to leave unless instructed otherwise." Ethan believed him for exactly half a second. Then three things happened. Marcus smiled. Priya touched Ethan's sleeve once, the lightest pressure, a signal without claim. And Nora Vale appeared in the hallway behind the agents, phone in hand, face pale with the knowledge that her brother had either been ambushed or had staged the most expensive piece of