Page 57 of Close Protection

Inside the apartment, Julia engaged the security system before conducting her standard perimeter check. Ivy moved to the kitchen, setting up her laptop to monitor the unfolding results of their first information release. The evidence against Knox was already propagating through digital channels, creating ripples that would soon become waves.

"First media report," she announced as Julia completed her security sweep. "Financial Times blog posting about 'unusual regulatory inquiry into eastern district property holdings near critical infrastructure.'"

Julia joined her at the kitchen counter, keeping a careful distance as she studied the screen over Ivy's shoulder. "How long until Knox's organization registers the threat?"

"They're already monitoring," Ivy replied, pulling up a secondary dashboard she'd created. "Three separate IP addresses associated with known Seraphim Syndicate operations have accessed the regulatory filing system in the past hour. They know something's happening."

"But they don't know what," Julia clarified. "Or who."

"Not yet," Ivy agreed. "The documents were scrubbed of any identifying metadata. They know the information came from somewhere, but not specifically from me."

She clicked through to a Bloomberg terminal, checking specific trading patterns in Knox's network of legitimate businesses. "Minor defensive positioning in the market. They're liquidating certain holdings, reinforcing others."

Julia's expression remained composed, but Ivy caught the subtle shift in her body language—tactical interest overriding professional distance. "Already preparing financial contingencies."

"Knox thinks like a chess player," Ivy explained. "Always calculating three moves ahead. He's sensing the first tremors of disruption and adjusting position accordingly."

The smallest smile touched Julia's lips. "What he doesn't realize is that someone finally understands his game."

The unexpected validation warmed Ivy. Julia wasn't given to praise or acknowledgment, each word measured with precision.This small recognition carried weight precisely because it was uncharacteristic.

"Second media outlet picked up the story," Ivy noted as notifications appeared on her dashboard. "Local business journal connecting property acquisitions to water facility security concerns."

Julia moved to make coffee, the domestic activity at odds with her constant vigilance. "Timeline acceleration?"

"Within expected parameters," Ivy replied, analyzing the information flow. "By morning, we should see regulatory response and initial market impact." She looked up from the screen, catching Julia's gaze. "First legitimate test of our infrastructure hypothesis."

Julia leaned against the counter, arms crossed in what Ivy now recognized as her analytical posture rather than defensive barrier. "If you're right about the pattern, Knox's security assets will begin repositioning tonight."

"Shifting from hunting us to damage control," Ivy confirmed. "Chief Marten's observers should detect movement at key properties within twelve hours."

Julia nodded, pouring coffee into two mugs. She handed one to Ivy, their fingers brushing in the exchange. The brief contact didn't seem accidental, but neither did she acknowledge it.

"What happens when Knox realizes it's a coordinated attack rather than random exposure?" she asked.

"He'll accelerate consolidation," Ivy replied, accepting the coffee with a nod of thanks. "Move physical resources to the Red Ridge compound while deploying legal and financial countermeasures through his legitimate businesses."

"And we release phase two before he can establish effective defense," Julia concluded.

"Exactly."

The apartment fell quiet save for the soft hum of the laptop and the distant city sounds filtering through closed windows. Ivy sipped her coffee, the familiar ritual grounding her in an otherwise surreal situation. One week ago, she'd been Dr. Ivy Monroe, forensic accountant with a comfortable office overlooking the harbor. Now, she was orchestrating the systematic dismantling of Phoenix Ridge's most powerful criminaloperation from a detective's apartment while hiding from professional killers.

"You're smiling," Julia observed, breaking the silence.

Ivy glanced up, surprised she'd noticed. "Just appreciating the absurdity."

"Absurdity?"

"This." Ivy gestured vaguely around them. "Woman with advanced degrees in mathematics and financial forensics, hiding in a converted firehouse, deploying federal-grade cyber operations while possibly the most disciplined detective in Phoenix Ridge makes me coffee."

Something softened in Julia's expression. "Life rarely follows expected parameters."

"No," Ivy agreed. "If it did, we never would have met at that hotel bar."

The reference to their beginning hung between them, neither fully acknowledged nor dismissed. Julia didn't respond directly, but she didn't retreat behind professional walls either. Progress, of a sort.

Ivy's phone chimed with a secure message from Morgan. "Knox's market position is shifting," she reported, reading the update. "Three of his legitimate businesses havebegun structured sell-offs of specific holdings."

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