Chapter Four: The Man in the Mirror

A miniature serial number marked the back. Jo discovered the pair had been unique when Adrian bought them at auction. But his left link was genuine; the number on the right was a duplicate. A forgery. “A hotel attendant pressed my jacket before last night’s party,” Adrian said. “Someone took the real one to frame me.” The face in the image could also be a mask, a projection, or a convincing double. Mira felt relief—and resented herself for feeling it. A faint click came from the dressing room. Red points lit one by one among the gown’s pearls. They were miniature cameras, streaming their reactions to someone watching live. Adrian reached for them. Mira stopped him, faced the gown, and smiled slowly. “The fit is perfect.