Chapter 8 - The Lion's Den
The torrential rain washed the blood from Derek's face as he limped through the dense woods behind the Bennett estate.
The sprawling mansion was heavily guarded, but Derek possessed the tactical training of a career special forces officer.
He silently neutralized a private security guard patrolling the perimeter, choking the man out and dragging him into the bushes.
He stole the guard's access keycard and slipped quietly through the side entrance of the massive house.
The interior of the mansion was completely dark, save for a single warm light glowing from a study at the end of the hall.
Derek gripped his pistol tightly, ignoring the agonizing pain in his broken ribs as he moved silently down the corridor.
He stopped just outside the open door of the study, listening carefully for any sign of movement.
He stepped smoothly into the room, leveling his weapon directly at the heavy leather armchair facing the fireplace.
"Turn around slowly and keep your hands where I can see them," Derek commanded, his voice raw and aggressive.
The chair slowly swiveled around to face him.
Eleanor Bennett sat comfortably with a cup of hot tea in her hand, looking entirely unsurprised by his violent intrusion.
"You look absolutely terrible, Derek," Eleanor said calmly, taking a slow sip from her porcelain cup.
"General Hale tried to kill me tonight because of the files you gave him," Derek spat, keeping the gun aimed directly at her chest.
"I know," Eleanor smiled softly, resting the teacup on the wooden saucer.
"I orchestrated your downfall specifically to force you into a corner so you would turn on him."
Derek frowned, confused by her terrifyingly calm demeanor in the face of a loaded weapon.
"You are going to log onto your foundation's network and broadcast a full confession exposing Hale's corruption," Derek demanded.
"I will gladly do that, provided you give me the names of every other officer involved in the smuggling ring," she countered smoothly.
Derek lowered his gun slightly, realizing they both wanted the exact same thing.
Eleanor stood up slowly and opened a wooden humidor on her desk, pulling out a sleek black flash drive.
"This drive contains a secure, encrypted uplink to the major news networks," she offered, holding it out to him.
Derek stepped forward and reached out to take the drive from her hand.
Suddenly, a sharp, piercing pain struck the side of his neck like a venomous bite.
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He slapped his hand against his skin, pulling out a small, metallic dart.
"I also orchestrated this exact moment, Colonel," Eleanor whispered as Derek's legs instantly gave out from underneath him.
