She searched everywhere she knew he could be, but there was no trace of him. As the evening wore on, she returned to his mansion. She decided to reach out to Andrei's best friend. The number was scribbled on a piece of paper she'd found tucked in the maid's notebook - a small, almost accidental discovery that now felt significant.
Her fingers hovered over the phone screen. She had never spoken to Philip before, she knew of him only through passing mentions by Andrei. Their social circles, while interconnected, had always maintained a careful distance. The call connected. A man's voice answered, deep and slightly distracted. "Philip?" Suzanne's voice was steady, controlled. But she was greeted by a cold silence from the other end of the call.
