Lost connection

I woke up early in the gray light of dawn at Adéle's house, still lying in the soft disarray of last night's passion. The quiet was heavy, filled with the low hum of the air conditioner and the distant sounds of the city beginning to stir. My mind, however, was not at ease. I had left so much unresolved, the case, my plans for revenge, and the nagging feeling that every lead was slipping further away. I reached for my phone on the bedside table and dialed Kilian.

As the call connected, I tried to steady my voice. "Kilian, it's me. I need an update on the investigation. What's the latest on the connection?" I spoke in low, controlled tones, fighting the anger that churned beneath the surface.

There was a pause on the line before Kilian's tired voice answered, "Gonzalo, we lost the connection. I can't trace any further data. It's as if the link just… vanished. We're back to square one."