Chapter 7 - The WarehouseThe location was an abandoned distribution warehouse outside the city.
I recognized it.
Old shipping district.
Multiple entrances.
Poor lighting.
Too many blind spots.
Classic trap.
Daniel parked two blocks away.
"You said come alone."
"We won't."
He looked at me.
"You brought your old team?"
"Part of them."
He smiled.
"Good."
We approached on foot.
Inside, the warehouse smelled like dust and rust.
A single light hung above the center of the floor.
Sophia sat in a chair beneath it.
Her hands were not tied.
That was deliberate.
She looked terrified.
"Sophia!"
She looked up.
"Daddy!"
I took one step.
A voice echoed from the darkness.
"Stop."
Daniel grabbed my shoulder.
A man walked into the light.
He wore a dark suit.
No weapon visible.
He didn't need one.
I knew that face.
It belonged to General Nathan Cole.
My former commanding officer.
The man who had promoted me.
The man who had signed my retirement.
The man who had attended my wife's funeral.
And the man who had told me Daniel was dead.
"General."
He smiled.
"Colonel."
"Where is my daughter?"
"Right there."
"Let her go."
Cole looked disappointed.
"You still don't understand."
"Explain."
"You never retired."
I stared at him.
"You're saying..."
"We continued using your network."
"My network?"
"Your relationships. Your methods. Your reputation."
I looked at Daniel.
He nodded.
Cole continued.
"Black Harbor was never destroyed."
"Then what was it?"
"A containment program."
My stomach tightened.
"Containment?"
"We identified people who had access to sensitive information."
"And what did you do with them?"
Cole smiled.
"Some were recruited."
"What about those who refused?"
Silence.
I already knew.
He changed the subject.
"The box."
I held it up.
"This?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Cole looked toward Sophia.
"Because your wife copied the ledger."
I stared.
"The box contains proof."
"Proof of what?"
"That senior officials, contractors, banks, and foreign intermediaries were part of the program."
Daniel stepped forward.
"And you were at the center."
Cole looked at him.
"You should still be dead."
Daniel smiled.
"I've been told."
Cole looked back at me.
"Give me the box."
I stepped forward.
Then Sophia shouted:
"Daddy, don't!"
I stopped.
She was staring at Cole.
"Who is that?"
Cole smiled.
"Someone your father used to trust."
Sophia's eyes widened.
Then she whispered:
"He's the man from Aunt Sarah's house."
My heart slammed against my ribs.
Cole's smile vanished.
"What did you say?"
Sophia pointed at him.
"He came before."
Cole turned toward Daniel.
"She remembers."
Daniel nodded.
"That's why they wanted her."
Cole's expression changed.
"Then we have a problem."
I heard footsteps around the warehouse.
Dozens.
My team had been spotted.
Cole looked at me.
"Now you have a choice."
I tightened my grip on the box.
"No."
He raised an eyebrow.
"I don't have a choice."
I looked at Sophia.
"I have a target."
The lights went out.
May you like
Gunfire erupted in the darkness.
And someone grabbed Sophia.
