Chapter 10 - The Ultimate Deception
The helicopter’s deafening rotors kicked up a massive storm of flying mud and debris.
Claire raised her pistol, preparing for a final, desperate stand against Vance’s heavy reinforcements.
But the helicopter didn't open fire on them.
Instead, it landed softly in the clearing, and a very familiar face stepped out into the rain.
It was Director Hayes, the absolute highest-ranking official in Claire’s covert intelligence agency.
"Stand down, Agent Mercer, you did exactly what we needed you to do," Hayes shouted over the engine noise.
He quickly explained that General Vance had been under internal investigation for months.
Hayes claimed they had used Luke as bait to force Vance to finally expose his syndicate hit squad.
Medical teams rushed past Hayes, carefully tending to Luke’s head wound and wrapping a warm thermal blanket around him.
Claire felt a massive, overwhelming wave of relief wash over her trembling body.
They were finally safe, and her brother was receiving the best medical care in the world.
Luke looked at her and smiled, incredibly proud of the dangerous, capable woman his sister had become.
Claire walked over to Director Hayes to hand over the micro-drive containing Vance’s corrupted syndicate files.
She placed the drive into Hayes’s hand, finally allowing her guard to drop completely.
"You have no idea how glad I am to see you, Director," Claire breathed.
Hayes smiled warmly and slipped the encrypted drive into his tailored suit pocket.
"You always were my most efficient and trusting operative, Claire," Hayes whispered softly.
May you like
He casually pulled a suppressed pistol from his coat and shot Luke directly in the chest.
"But the syndicate doesn't leave loose ends, and General Vance was only my middleman."
