Chapter 847
“We need that key Travis mentioned,” Felix said. “If she sells the logistics division, the flight records for the Blue Phoenix get purged automatically. We’ll never find the prison.”
“It exists,” Skye said. “Celeste is too arrogant to destroy her only leverage before the money hits her account.”
Her phone buzzed. It was Julian.
“Turn on your secure feed,” Julian’s voice said. “Channel 4.”
Skye sat at her desk and tapped her keyboard. A monitor flickered to life, showing a black-and-white feed of a guest room at the Vance Estate.
Travis Tate sat on the edge of the bed, glancing around nervously. He waited, checking his watch. Then he took off his left shoe.
Skye leaned in.
Travis pried off the heel of his sneaker. Inside was a tiny black device — a micro-transmitter. The fear on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a blank, cold, professional stillness. He tapped a sequence into the device.
𝖳𝘩𝘦 𝘮о𝘴𝘵 𝗉𝗈р𝗎l𝖺r 𝗇𝗈𝘃𝖾𝗹s оn ga𝗅ո𝘰𝘷𝗲𝗹𝘴.𝗰о𝗆
“He’s transmitting,” Julian said over the phone, sounding delighted. “We intercepted the burst. It’s encrypted, but the header is clear.”
“What does it say?” Skye asked, her grip tightening on the phone.
“‘Infiltration successful. Target trust level: forty percent. Awaiting instructions.’”
Skye let out a harsh laugh. “The little rat. He’s a double agent.”
“Triple, maybe,” Julian mused. “He’s working for Celeste.”
“He lied about being afraid,” Skye realized. “To gain sympathy.”
“So,” Julian said. “Do I deal with him now, or do we feed him to the dogs?”
Skye watched the screen. Travis was now putting his shoe back on, practicing his terrified expression in the mirror.
“No,” Skye said. “Killing him is too easy. And it tells Celeste we know.”
“Then what?”
“He wants intel?” Skye said, a dangerous smile playing on her lips. “Let’s give it to him. He’s scanning your network, isn’t he?”
“He’s trying,” Julian chuckled. “My firewall is eating him alive, but he doesn’t know it.”
“Lower the drawbridge,” Skye ordered. “Let him in — but only to the sandbox. Give him the fake security schematics. Give him the distorted financial reports for Oracle.”
“Disinformation,” Julian said approvingly. “I like it.”
“We’re going to use him to hang Celeste,” Skye said. “Let him think he’s the hunter. When he brings her the poison apple, we’ll be there to watch her choke on it.”
“You’re terrifying,” Julian said softly. “It’s a compliment.”
“Goodnight, Julian.”
Skye hung up. She looked at her reflection in the darkened window. She looked tired, but her eyes were burning.
Strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind. Alistair.
“You’re tense,” he murmured against her ear.
“Travis is a mole,” she said, leaning back into him.
“I know,” Alistair said. “I saw the feed.”
“We’re going to play him.”
“Tomorrow,” Alistair said, turning her around. He lifted her onto the edge of the desk, stepping between her legs. “Tonight, you’re off the clock.”
“The city is burning, Alistair. Parker and Victoria are gone.”
“Let it burn for a few hours,” he said, kissing the pulse point on her neck. “We can’t help them if we collapse. We need to be sharp for the hunt. Right now, I need to remind you that you’re alive.”