Chapter 7 - The Aftermath
The digital timer instantly froze at exactly three seconds.
The room was completely silent, except for the ragged breathing of the terrified guests.
I slowly exhaled a breath I felt like I had been holding for an eternity.
“Device is neutralized,” I announced, stepping back from the table.
A massive, collective sigh of relief washed over the entire officers' club.
General Sterling marched forward and placed a heavy, reassuring hand on my shoulder.
“That was the bravest thing I have ever witnessed in my career, Agent Walker,” he said proudly.
“Thank you, Sir,” I replied, holstering my weapon and putting my knife away.
The doors to the club flew open, and a swarm of heavily armed FBI agents and military police flooded the room.
They immediately secured the defused bomb and began processing the massive crime scene.
I walked over to where Ethan was still kneeling on the floor.
He looked up at me, his eyes filled with absolute shame and profound regret.
“Grace, I am so incredibly sorry,” he wept, tears leaving clean streaks on his dirty face.
“You did not just betray your country, Ethan,” I said quietly.
“You betrayed me, every single day for six years.”
He bowed his head, unable to meet my cold, unforgiving stare.
Patricia was dragged out of the kitchen by two large military police officers.
Her expensive dress was ruined, and her arrogant pride was completely shattered.
“Grace, please tell them to let me go!” she begged, struggling against the handcuffs.
“Enjoy federal prison, Patricia,” I replied smoothly.
“You will finally have plenty of time to focus on your own life instead of mine.”
I watched as the police loaded my treacherous husband and his mother into the back of an armored transport vehicle.
Vanessa was strapped to a stretcher, surrounded by armed guards as paramedics treated her gunshot wound.
She glared at me with pure hatred as they rolled her toward the waiting ambulance.
The nightmare I had been silently investigating for months was finally over.
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I had successfully completely dismantled a dangerous foreign spy ring and saved hundreds of lives.
I stood alone in the center of the grand room, adjusting my simple navy dress.
