The war leaves its mark.

Previously

…The journal, a silent testament to Sarah’s sharp mind, lay open on the desk, a single name and address circled in red ink. It was a name Alex had seen before, a name associated with power and influence, a name that had always been above suspicion. And the address, a discreet, opulent estate on the outskirts of the city, a place whispered about in hushed tones of influence and clandestine dealings. The cracks in the facade were widening, and Alex Thorne knew, with a chilling certainty, that he was about to step through them.