Melissa entered the penthouse suite at the Roxy Hotel. She was about to disrobe and take a long hot bath when an incessant rapping sound boomed through the suite. When she answered the door, George was standing there with an urgent look.

“What is it?” Melissa asked.

He walked into the room and closed the door.

“You need to see this,” he said.

George handed Melissa a tablet. It looked like grainy video footage of a woman. Melissa couldn’t see the image clearly.

“So, what am I looking at?”

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“This is some footage taken at your compound in Edinburgh. Now look at the next photo.”

Melissa swiped to reveal the next photo in the series. She gasped.

“Is this the same person that attacked us in Edinburgh?”

“Yes,” George replied. “The second photo was taken from a security camera in Chinatown last night. It showed a woman with white hair decapitating people near a noodle shop in the area.”

“The first photo is grainy—are you sure it’s the same person?”

“I had my top investigator authenticate both photos—it’s the same woman in both photos.”

Melissa’s heart sank.

Is this woman looking for April?

“Do we have any information about who she is?”

“Yes, she is known as Noz the Dark in the criminal underworld. I believe her name is Nozomi.”

“Excellent work. Increase the guard—but I don’t want an army of men following us around.”

“I’ve got the perfect man in mind. His name is Klaus, and he is professionally trained and very discreet.”

George rechecked the suite, and when he was satisfied it was secure, he left Melissa to her thoughts.