By sunrise, Crown City already felt different. The streets were awake before the sun, and rumors traveled faster than traffic.
Everybody knew peace was temporary. A handshake could last a week. A blood oath could last a lifetime. A disrespect could outlive both men involved.
On the East Side, engines idled behind dark windows. On the West, phones kept ringing. Downtown watched from above. The North counted information. The South opened old books.
Somebody had made a move during the night. Nobody wanted to claim it yet.
That meant the next move would be louder.