Chapter 12

The storm finally broke.

At first, it was just a few heavy drops hammering against the massive glass panes, sounding like knuckles rapping on a door. Then, the sky seemed to be torn open by an invisible giant hand, and millions of tons of water poured down, instantly washing Manhattan's glittering nightscape into a blur of neon oil paint.

Clemensa remained seated on the deep gray B&B Italia sofa,