Ben was in the backseat, double-checking their equipment. “Remember, we go in quietly. We can’t afford to alert them to our presence until we’re ready.”

  Jack and Reese agreed, the plan clear in their minds. They drove past the farmhouse and got a feel for the land. Jack drove another quarter mile and pulled off the road. They approached on foot from there to avoid detection. Every step seemed to echo in the silence. There was nothing out there. Just fields and the lone farmhouse. Jack wondered if their own steps could be heard inside. Would they be setting themselves up?

  The farmhouse was old and decrepit, its windows boarded up and the surrounding land overgrown with weeds. Despite the abandoned look of the house, they moved cautiously, using the underbrush for cover as they approached.

  “There,” Ben whispered, pointing to a small side door that looked less fortified than the main entrance. “I bet we can get in through there.”

  It took a few pulls, but the door gave way. They slipped through the opening and found themselves in a dark, musty corridor. The air was thick with the smell of decay and neglect. They pressed on, moving silently through the hidden corridor.

  Jack’s senses were on high alert. With every beat of his heart, he felt the movement around him, every creak of the floorboards and distant rustle putting him on edge. They checked room after room, each one empty and abandoned.

  The search turned up nothing. Jack ran his hands through his hair, frustrated at the time they’d spent here, uncovering nothing. He turned to the informant. “What gives?”

  The man said nothing, staring at the ground.

  Jack grabbed the guy by the back of the head, forcing him to look into his eyes. “What are you not telling us?”

  The man clenched his eyes shut. Tears spilled over his cheeks.

  “Tell me, or so help me, I will end you. Do you understand me? I’ve killed for less.”

  The informant shuddered and cried. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

  Jack slapped him, pulled his head back, made him look him in the eye again. “What the hell are you sorry for?”

  “Upstairs,” the informant whispered, his voice barely audible. “They usually keep prisoners in the attic.”

  With that news, Jack let go of the man. “Come on, let’s head up.”

  They made their way up the narrow staircase, the wood groaning under their weight. The attic was dimly lit, filled with old furniture and discarded items. But in the corner, they found something that made their hearts race.

  A small table covered in papers, maps, and photographs. Jack rifled through them, his eyes widening as he recognized some of the locations and faces. One map caught his attention—a detailed layout of another property, with notes scribbled in the margins.

  Jack held up the map. “There’s something here.”

  Reese’s eyes widened as she looked at the map. “I know this spot. This place is even more remote than the farmhouse. It’s a hunting lodge, deep in the woods. Hard to get to, easy to defend.”

  Ben nodded. “We need to move now. This could be our last chance.”

  As they made their way back down the stairs, they heard voices approaching the farmhouse. Jack felt hid heart pound against his chest as they hid in the shadows and waited for the voices to pass.

  Once the coast was clear, they slipped out the way they came, making their way back to the Jeep.

  11

  Jack, Reese, and Ben arrived at the hunting lodge as the sun’s rays crested over the dense forest. The morning dew hung heavy in the air, coating their skin. The building, partially hidden by tall pines, looked desolate and abandoned, but the trio knew better than to let their guard down. The tension in the air was palpable, each step forward heightening their senses.

  “Let’s scope it out from here.” Jack raised his binoculars to his eyes. He scanned the perimeter and took note of the placement of motion sensors and a few well-hidden cameras. “Security’s tight. They’re definitely hiding something.”

  Reese knelt beside him, her gaze fixed on the lodge. “We need to be careful. If they’re expecting us, we could walk right into a trap.”

  Ben nodded as he checked his gear one last time. “We’ll move in quietly. No unnecessary risks.”

  The three of them moved cautiously towards the lodge. They used the cover of the trees to avoid detection. Every step was calculated, every rustle of leaves a potential giveaway. They reached the edge of the clearing and paused to assess their final approach.

  “There,” Ben whispered. He pointed to a small side entrance partially obscured by overgrown bushes. “Looks like our best bet.”

  They slipped through the underbrush, reaching the door without incident. Jack tested the handle. It was unlocked. He exchanged a quick glance with Reese and Ben before pushing it open. They stepped into a dark corridor.

  The interior of the lodge was as decrepit as the exterior. The air was thick with mold and neglect. The trio moved silently, their flashlights cutting through the darkness. The main hallway branched off into several rooms, each filled with old furniture and discarded items.

  “Let’s split up,” Jack whispered. “Ben, you take the basement. Reese, check the first floor. I’ll head upstairs.”

  They nodded in agreement, each disappearing into their assigned areas. Jack made his way up the creaky staircase. It felt like every step was a potential alarm bell. He reached the top and methodically checked each room. Most were empty, filled only with dust and the remnants of past occupants. But as he reached the end of the hall, he found a room that looked different.

  Jack pushed open the door to find a small office. Papers were scattered across a desk, and maps covered one wall. He moved closer, his flashlight illuminating the documents. At first glance, they seemed to provide clues—maps of the area, lists of names, dates, and notes scribbled in the margins. But the more Jack examined them, the more he realized something was off. The information was too perfect, too conveniently placed.

  It felt like a setup.

  “Jack, over here,” Reese’s voice crackled in his earpiece. He pocketed a few of the papers and headed downstairs. He found her in what looked like an old armory. Weapons lined the walls, and a table in the center held several communication devices.

  “Anything?” he asked.

  “Nothing that points directly to Brenda.” Reese slammed the device in her hand down on the table. “It’s like they were preparing for something, but there’s no sign she was ever here.”

  Jack nodded, his mind racing. “Ben, report,” he said into the earpiece.

  “Found the basement,” Ben’s voice crackled back. “But it’s empty. Just some scattered papers. Looks like someone cleared out in a hurry.”

  The weight of the situation pressed down on Jack like a two-ton anvil. “Meet us back in the main hall. We need to regroup.”

  As they convened in the hallway, Jack spread the documents on the floor. “This feels wrong. It’s like they wanted us to find this place.”

  Reese nodded. “A dead end. But why?”

  “Because they’re playing us,” Jack said. “We need to figure out who’s behind this and why they want us chasing our tails.”

  They were interrupted by the distant sound of vehicles approaching.

  Jack’s shoulders tensed as he heard the rumble of engines getting closer. “We need to move. Now.”

  They gathered the documents and stuffed them in Reese’s bag, scrambling to find better cover within the lodge. Moments later, the sound of boots hitting the ground echoed through the building. The front door burst open, and a group of armed men stormed inside, their flashlights slicing through the darkness.

  “Stay low,” Jack whispered.

  They ducked behind an old, overturned wooden table. The room was silent aside from their ragged breaths. Flashlight beams sliced through the darkness. Jack peeked over the table. Saw the silhouettes of four men across the room.

  The first shots rang out, shattering the silence. Jack, Reese, and Ben returned fire, their tactical training kicking in. The lodge became a chaotic battlefield. Bullets flew and shouts echoed off the walls. After another volley of return fire, the room fell silent again.

  Ben eased around the table. “Looks like two are down. One still moving.”

  Jack nodded and signaled for Reese to cover them. “Let’s check on him.”

  They moved to the man and disarmed him before dragging him behind the table.

  “Who are you? Who sent you?” Ben demanded.

  The man grimaced in pain but managed a defiant smile. “You’re in way over your head, old man.”

  “Who sent you?” Jack said.

  “Marcus Wade,” the attacker finally spat out. “He knew you’d come here, Noble.”

  Jack’s thoughts raced back to his last mission with Marcus. They were SIS, working for Frank Skinner. They had been deep in Afghanistan, and a critical decision Jack made had led to Marcus’s capture. He had always suspected Marcus blamed him, but he hadn’t known the extent of his vendetta. Marcus’s grudge had festered over the years, and now it had brought them to this deadly confrontation.

  Jack felt a chill run down his spine. “Why?”

  The attacker coughed, blood staining his lips. “He has a score to settle with you.”

  Before Jack could ask any more questions, the wounded man succumbed to his injuries with a final ragged breath.

  “We need to get out of here. This place is a dead end.”

  Jack, Reese, and Ben slipped out through a side entrance, disappearing into the surrounding forest. The sounds of chaos and confusion behind them faded as they put distance between themselves and the lodge. They didn’t stop until they were deep in the woods, far from immediate danger.

  They found a secluded spot surrounded by thick trees and underbrush, providing them with cover and a chance to catch their breath.

  “Everyone okay?” Jack asked.

  Ben nodded, though his expression was grim. “A few scrapes, nothing serious.”

  Reese rubbed her arm where a bullet had grazed her. “I’ll be fine. But what now? We’re back to square one.”

  Jack spread out the documents they had taken from the lodge and warehouse. “We need to reassess. There’s something here we’re missing. Something has to be real, setup or not.”

  They poured over the papers, searching for any hidden clues. The maps and lists seemed random at first, but patterns began to emerge.

  “Look at this.” Ben pointed to a series of dates and locations. “These aren’t just random places. They’re key points in Hennessey’s network.”

  Reese leaned in. “I’m not sure what to make of this. What’s the deal with Marcus Wade?”

  Jack explained the connection, but the fact the man was in Lewiston made no sense to any of them. Was it by chance? Had he followed Jack here? Or had Reese been placed in the town specifically because Wade was here and there was a chance Jack might show up?

  “We need a new strategy,” Jack said. “This is bigger than we thought. We need to hit key locations simultaneously. It’s the only way to disrupt his operations and create enough chaos to find Brenda.”

  Ben nodded. “There are three main targets. Hennessey’s headquarters, a shipping hub, and what I believe is a safehouse where they might be holding Brenda.” He tapped the map. “We’ll need to split up to cover more ground. Jack, you and Reese take the safe house. I’ll handle the other locations.”

  “We set up a rendezvous point here.” Jack pointed to a spot on the map. “Meet back in six hours. If something goes wrong, we pull back and reassess.”

  12

  Jack and Reese drove in silence for the first few miles. Jack was still processing the news about Marcus Wade and the implications surrounding it. He no longer had the anonymity he thought. Wade knew him, and that meant Hennessey knew his identity. Did the man have the kind of power that allowed him to do something damaging with the information?

  The road stretched out ahead of them, winding through the forest, with the safehouse still some distance away.

  Jack finally broke the silence. “You know, I still can’t believe you’re here, Reese. After all these years.”

  Reese glanced at him, a small smile playing on her lips. “It’s been a wild ride, hasn’t it? I never imagined our paths would cross like this again.”

  “Life has a funny way of bringing people back together.” Jack gripped the steering wheel. “I’m just glad we’re on the same side.”

  Reese’s smile faded. “I just wish it wasn’t under these circumstances. Finding Brenda is all I can think about. Even with the news of my brother. I guess I always figured he’d meet an early end. But Brenda, she’s a good woman. Maybe too good. Her crusades grew more dangerous over the past year. And now⁠—”

  Jack placed his hand on hers. “We’ll find her. We’ve come too far to back down now.”

  As they neared the safehouse, they fell silent again. The sun was low in the sky, casting long shadows across the landscape. The house came into view—a nondescript single story that blended into its surroundings.

  “Here we are.” Jack pulled off the road and parked the car out of sight. They got out, scanning the area for any signs of surveillance or recent activity.

  “Looks quiet.” Reese glanced all around. Her detective instincts were kicking in. “Almost too quiet.”

  Jack nodded. “Let’s scout the perimeter.”

  They moved cautiously around the building, noting potential entry points and any possible threats. There didn’t appear to be any security in place, at least none they could see.

  “Looks clear,” Jack whispered. “Let’s head in before the light fades completely.”

  With the sun dipping below the horizon, they approached the house. The shadows deepened, providing them with additional cover. Jack tested the back door and found it locked but not alarmed.

  “I’ll get us in.” Jack pulled out his lock-picking tools. Within moments, the lock clicked open, and they slipped inside, their movements silent and deliberate.

  The interior was dimly lit by the fading light filtering through the dirty windows. They moved through the darkened rooms, their flashlights casting beams of light that revealed the disarray within.

  The place was a mess. Overturned furniture, scattered papers, and broken items littered the floor. Either someone had left in a hurry or the place had been ransacked. If it was the latter, then who had done it? What kind of enemies did Hennessey have?

  “Doesn’t look promising.” Reese’s flashlight swept over the chaos.

  “How much do you know about Hennessey?”

  She shrugged. “Just what Brenda said.”

  “Enemies?”

  “I imagine he’s pissed off his share of politicians and whatnot.”

  “So maybe there is something in this chaos.” Jack scanned the room for any clues. “Let’s keep looking.”

  They moved deeper into the house, stepping over broken glass and debris. The air was thick with dust, and every creak of the floorboards sounded like a gunshot in the silence.

  Reese’s flashlight caught a glint of something metallic half-buried under a pile of papers. She knelt down and sifted through the mess, found an old, battered briefcase. She opened it, revealing a disorganized pile of documents, some of which looked relatively recent.

  “Jack, over here,” she called softly, holding up a sheet of paper.

  Jack joined her and peered at the paper she had found. It was an email printout, addressed to someone named Carl. The subject line read “Project Updates,” and the body of the email contained a series of coded messages and coordinates.

  “Carl,” Jack muttered. “That’s Hennessey’s name.”

  Reese nodded. “This could be a lead. Look at the sender’s email address.”

  Jack glanced at the top of the email: wade.marcus21@gmail.com. His jaw clenched. “Marcus Wade. He’s deeper into this than we thought.”

  Reese’s eyes narrowed. “There’s a phone number at the bottom. We can use this later to trace more information.”

  Jack took a photo of the email with his phone. “Let’s keep moving. There has to be more.”

  They continued searching the rooms, their flashlights revealing more signs of a hurried departure. Jack’s beam landed on a small, leather-bound notebook partially hidden under a couch cushion. He flipped through it, finding pages filled with hastily scribbled notes and diagrams.

  “Check this out.” He tossed the notebook to Reese.

  She skimmed through the pages, her brow furrowing. “Looks like a lot of plans and financial records. Some of these notes mention a ‘main event.’”

  “Whatever that means, it’s not good. We need to find out more.”

  Reese flipped to the last few pages and found an entry that stood out. “Jack, listen to this: ‘Safe house compromised. Moving assets to secondary location. Ensure all records are transferred. Destroy remaining evidence.’”

  Jack’s eyes widened. “So they knew this place was blown. They must have moved everything important.”

  “Secondary location,” Reese repeated, scanning the room. “There might be something here that tells us where that is.”

  Jack moved to the desk in the corner of the room. He rifled through the drawers, coming across various office supplies and more documents. One drawer was locked. He pulled out his tools again and picked the lock. Inside, he found a small key and a slip of paper with an address scribbled on it.

  “This could be it,” Jack said, holding up the key and the paper. “Let’s check the basement. There might be something down there that confirms this is where they moved.”

  They headed back to the locked door Reese had found earlier. Jack used the key to unlock it, and they descended the creaky stairs into the basement.

  The basement was a stark contrast to the chaos upstairs. It was clean and organized, with a makeshift office setup. Jack took note of the computer on the desk, stacks of files, and a map on the wall with various locations marked. He recognized them from files they had found at the previous locations.