Up until recently, he would have gone home. Everything — outwardly — in his organization was under control, and there were only three field missions pending. A quiet day, and a good day to go home, spend some time with Emily.

But Emily wasn't home — wouldn't ever be home again. And things at his organization — somewhere deep under the calm façade of Credit Dauphine — were spinning out of control. Double agents, triple agents, allegiances bent until they were near the breaking point — coming together in Berlin while he was forced to sit here. Sit quietly and look out over the place as though things were still under control.

The phone trilled, and he was disinclined to answer, until he saw the name of the caller. Ramon Veloso was not someone he could afford to ignore. His pulse picked up as he realized that this call could only complicate his life further.

"Ramon, good afternoon." Sloane paused. "I had not expected to hear from you until next week."

Next week, Ramon was to call with news of his impending membership in The Alliance. Next week, his organization was to be fully under control again, whatever was happening in Berlin sorted out.

"Arvin, we have a problem," Ramon said, and his heart pounded even more in the short silence that followed. "But we should discuss it in person."

They made arrangements to meet in London in two days — a full Alliance meeting, which concerned him more than he let on to Ramon. It was, he reflected, a bad time for double agents.