I set the white ceramic cup down on its saucer.

The invitation for our scheduled video call was already on my calendar for two o’clock Lisbon time, which was eight in the morning back home in Illinois.

I picked up the phone, stepped back inside through the open terrace door, and latched the heavy glass behind me.

I sat at the narrow oak desk in the corner of the main room, opened my laptop, and logged into the encrypted meeting room Sarah Mitchell had set up the previous afternoon.

Sarah was already waiting on the call.