The elevator doors closed with a soft finality that felt louder than it should have in the confined space. The movement upward began immediately, smooth and controlled, as though the building itself had decided to ignore the tension inside it. Neither Caro nor Peter spoke at first. The silence was not empty. It was occupied, full of thoughts neither of them had chosen to say aloud.
Caro kept her gaze forward, but her awareness stayed on Peter beside her. The reflection in the polished metal doors showed him more than directly looking at him would have. His posture was steady, but not relaxed. His hand still held the tablet, though he was no longer reading it. That alone told her everything she needed to know. Peter did not abandon information unless something more important had already taken its place.
