Act I The white service towel fell first. It slipped from the young waiter’s hand and landed on the stone floor beside the oak table, soft and silent for half a heartbeat. Then…

Act I The passport wallet slid across the red carpet before anyone reached for the woman. It was brown, worn soft at the edges, and so plain that it looked almost out of…

Act I The black chip rolled across the red carpet before anyone remembered to breathe. It spun once beneath the gold wall sconce, scratched edges flashing under the warm casino lights, then came…

Act I The silver name badge fell before Mr. Liang did. It struck the cream marble with a sharp little sound, slid beneath the wheel of a brass luggage cart, and came to…

Act I The canvas tote hit the dock before Mrs. Blackwell did. It struck the polished wooden planks beside the velvet rope, sagged open, and spilled a navy scarf and a pair of…

Act I The art catalogue struck the marble before the boy did. It slid across the museum floor, glossy pages fluttering open beneath the spotlights, stopping beside the velvet rope that guarded a…

Act I The wrong chord rang out across the rooftop. It was sharp, ugly, and impossible to ignore, crashing from the white grand piano as Nathan Reed fell beside it and caught himself…

Act I The admission envelope landed face-up on the stone path. Its cream paper slid across the entrance of Anderson Academy, stopping beneath the shadow of the carved gate pillars. The academy seal…

Act I The leather folder hit the courthouse floor with a sharp crack. Papers slid across the polished stone, scattering beneath the dark wooden courtroom doors and stopping near the brass plaque that…