There was no bitterness in her voice. That made the words worse.

Marcus watched her continue toward the gates. He had always respected Lena, though he couldn’t have explained why. She remembered the names of his children.

She noticed when guards worked double shifts. Three years earlier, she had warned him not to take a particular route to the airport — and a truck had jackknifed on that road twenty minutes later.

Marcus had called it luck. Lena had said nothing.

Chapter 2 — Twelve Cars

At 10:13, the cameras at the eastern gate detected movement. One black Rolls-Royce appeared first. Then another. Then ten more. They approached in two perfect lines, their polished bodies reflecting the estate lights and the falling rain.

No visible plates. No corporate markings. Only a small silver emblem on the lead car’s hood — a tree with twelve branches enclosed in a circle.