Julian did not go back to the apartment immediately.
He walked until the movement in his body matched the steadiness he needed in his head, then slowed near a quieter stretch of the street where the noise of the city settled into something distant and manageable. The scene from earlier stayed clear in his mind, not blurred, not uncertain. The man collapsing. The contact. The shift that followed.
It had been immediate and it had been real.
Julian stood for a moment, then reached for his phone.
He didn't scroll. He didn't hesitate long enough to second-guess it. He dialed.
Rebecca picked up before the second ring.
"Where are you?" she asked.
The question came too quickly.
Julian glanced up the street, taking in his surroundings before answering. "A few blocks from the main road."
"Stay there," she said.
The line went quiet before he could respond.
Julian lowered the phone slowly.
