The car eased into traffic as the studio district disappeared behind them.
Franz settled back into the seat while the city moved slowly outside the window. The afternoon had already begun to fade toward evening, though the snow continued falling at the same steady pace.
The driver navigated carefully through the winter traffic.
Franz loosened the knot of his tie and rested his shoulder against the back of the seat. The quiet inside the car felt unusually welcome after the bright lights and constant conversation inside the television studio.
For several minutes he watched the passing streets without thinking about anything in particular.
Then he reached into his coat pocket and took out his phone.
The conversation with Arianne was still open.
His eyes moved naturally to the same line he had read twice already.
Have a beautiful face.
