"Almost certainly," Samuel confirmed. "We have no direct evidence yet, but the timing, Seron gets out, Malvin disappears…" He shook his head. "That is not a coincidence."
"Malvin," Max said. "You said some men took him."
"Correct. We couldn't trace them. He's gone, Max. Either he went to her willingly or…" Samuel left the alternative unspoken. With Mia, the alternative was self-evident.
Max nodded slowly. He started walking. Samuel kept pace. "Violet," Max said. "Any movement."
"None. She knows we are watching her, she has gone completely still. No calls, no meetings, nothing that gives us anything to act on." Samuel adjusted the file under his arm.
"But her stillness is its own kind of movement. A woman like Violet does not go quiet because she has given up. She goes quiet because she is waiting for the right moment."
"And she is in contact with Mia," Max said.
"Could be. And Ace…" Samuel paused slightly. Max looked at him sideways.
