"A couple hours at most." I pull out my phone, check the security system. "Cameras are active, motion sensors engaged. The system alerts me to any movement, any breach. I'm back here in seconds."
She nods. "I have work to do anyway."
"Good." I move to leave, then pause. "And Simone? That command about not leaving the guest house? That includes not going to the main house for any reason. Even if it seems harmless. Even if you think it's safe. You stay here until I return. Clear?"
"Clear."
I leave her with the command hanging between us, a boundary line drawn in concrete. She'll either respect it or she'll test it. And if she tests it, she'll learn exactly what consequences look like when I'm the one enforcing them.
The walk to the main house is short through the gardens that Isabella has transformed into something out of a Southern Living magazine spread. Azaleas and camellias, jasmine climbing the old brick walls, magnolia trees heavy with blooms. Beautiful, peaceful, exactly the kind of setting that makes people forget about threats lurking in shadows.
I don't forget. Can't afford to.
Remy's in his office when I arrive, Andy's already present along with two of our tech specialists. Maps of Dominion spread across the desk, security footage queued up on multiple monitors.
"Luc." Remy nods to the empty chair. "Let's get started."
I take my seat, scanning the assembled team. Andy's in detective mode, his notebook out, ready to document everythingfor his investigation. The tech specialists are already analyzing footage, tracking timestamps and camera angles.
"Initial assessment," Remy begins. "Three photographs delivered over time, all showing the victim in compromising positions at Dominion's private rooms. Based on the photo angles, lighting, and positions, we believe hidden cameras were used—the shots are too perfect, too consistently framed to be handheld or phone cameras taken during scenes. Stalker has intimate knowledge of club operations and victim's patterns."
"Suspect pool?" Andy leans forward.
"Club members with access to private rooms who could have planted surveillance equipment." I pull up the list Margot sent over last night. "Margot worked through the night pulling membership records—she's identified dozens of members who had access to at least one of those three rooms during the timeframe we're examining. We need to narrow that down based on additional criteria."
One of the tech specialists pulls up security footage from Dominion's main entrance. "We've isolated all entry and exit logs for the surveillance window. Cross-referencing with timestamps from the photographs to identify who had access when the cameras were likely planted."
"How many private rooms are we talking about?" Andy's taking notes.
"Dominion has a dozen private rooms," I tell him. "Soundproofed, no surveillance per club policy, designed for discretion. Members book them in advance, access granted via key card that logs entry and exit times."
"Access logs give us a starting point," Andy says.
"How did you identify which specific rooms?" Andy asks.
"The photographs show distinctive features," one of the tech specialists explains. "Suspension point configurations, restraintsystems, lighting setups. We matched them to rooms three, five, and eight."
"So we're looking at three specific rooms." Andy writes. "Three, five, and eight."
"Correct," the specialist confirms. "And we can use those room numbers to pull access logs for the relevant timeframe."
"Not enough." I pull up the first photograph on my phone, study the angle and lighting. "Based on these photo angles, if cameras were planted, they'd likely be in elevated positions—ventilation grates, ceiling fixtures, decorative elements. Someone with technical knowledge and familiarity with the rooms' layouts. That suggests either repeated access or advance reconnaissance."
"Or both." Remy's expression hardens. "Someone who's been planning this for months, not weeks."
"We're working on theory until Luc sweeps the rooms this afternoon," Remy continues. "But the photo evidence strongly suggests sophisticated surveillance equipment."
The tech specialist brings up a new screen. "We've identified less than twenty members who had access to at least one of the three rooms where photographs originated. Cross-referencing with the timeframe when surveillance equipment was likely planted."
Better than dozens, but still too many.
"Run background checks on all of them," I instruct. "Employment history, technical skills, prior stalking charges, restraining orders, anything that flags obsessive behavior. And pull their membership records from Dominion. Scene preferences, play partners, frequency of visits."
"Looking for patterns?" Andy asks.
"Looking for someone who's been watching Simone specifically." I zoom in on the photograph, studying the composition. "These aren't random shots. They're carefullyframed, designed to capture vulnerability. Whoever took these knew exactly what they wanted to document."
The meeting continues for another hour, breaking down timelines and access logs, identifying equipment signatures that might narrow the technical profile. By the time we're done, we've reduced the suspect pool to roughly a dozen members who had the access, knowledge, and opportunity to plant surveillance equipment in Dominion's private rooms.
