Chapter 10 - Into the Lion’s Den
“I brought what you wanted, Cole. Now let Sarah go,” David shouted back, his voice cutting cleanly through the gale as he took slow, deliberate steps toward the edge of the pier.
Cole chuckled, a dry, humorless sound that echoed off the damp stone walls of the lighthouse.
“You really think you are in a position to bargain, Miller? You were a ghost the moment you walked away from the program,” Cole sneered, signaling to the two armed guards flanking him.
The guards raised their carbines, locking their laser sights directly onto David’s chest.
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“Drop the briefcase and kick it forward,” Cole commanded.
David’s eyes locked onto Cole’s. Instead of dropping the case, David flipped the brass latches open with a sharp snap and kicked the heavy metal container hard across the wet concrete. As the case slid toward Cole’s feet, its lid flew open—not revealing documents, but a blinking tactical GPS beacon broadcasting an encrypted override signal straight to the global maritime security network. Cole’s expression froze in utter disbelief as his tablet screen flashed from green to a glaring warning: System Override: International War Crimes Tribunal Connected. Before Cole could scream an order to fire, the blinding flash of three approaching naval interceptor boats lit up the entire bay, their sirens wailing over the storm.
