Chapter 47

Chapter Forty Seven

Filtered light from outside started to push through the thick foliage, somewhat akin to the quilt draped across the forest's floor. Inside was another story: pent-up angst and determination. After a few hours of restless sleep, Fiona, Julian, Emma, and Victor sat back at the table with a new determination to the task at hand: Alexander Cross, the ever-elusive figurehead pulling all these strings, now leading them ever closer into the quagmire of disastrous living that had become their lives.

The small table in the cabin was cluttered with documents, maps, and laptops. Fiona was sitting at the head, her eyes raking through the documents they had recovered from Devereaux's estate. She felt tired, but the urge of their situation kept her going. Julian was beside her, his laptop on, cross-referencing names and dates, trying to connect the dots. Emma sat across, a frown on her forehead as she concentrated on something. Victor was standing by the window, guarding their hideout, which was away from the public eye.

"We still need solid information about Cross," she said, thereby breaking the silence. "We've got names and transactions. but nothing that can bring us to Cross directly."

"He's taken such precautions," Julian retorted, with his fingers dancing over a keyboard. "Cross operates without intermediaries, using shell companies and proxies. He is covered well, but there has to be something, some slip-up we can exploit."

Emma's gaze lifted from a pile of documents. "There's someone who might be able to help us. A contact of mine. An information broker specializing in digging up dirt on people—people like Cross. She's not cheap, and she's not exactly trustworthy, but if anyone can find him, it's her."

Fiona thought for a moment. "Can we trust her?

Emma hesitated, before speaking with mere consideration. "As far as anyone can be in this world. She's driven by money and power, but she has her own code. So long as we pay her enough and keep her interests running parallel to ours, she won't stab us in the back. At least, not until she gets what she wants.

Victor silenced himself. "This could be our best shot; we need to take the risk. Sitting here and hoping we stumble onto something isn't going to get us anywhere."

Fiona nodded. "Alright, let's set up a meeting. But we need to be careful. If Cross has eyes everywhere, we cannot let him know we are looking for him."

Emma took her cell phone from her purse and left the room. Julian, Liam, and Michael watched her pacing back and forth on the front lawn, speaking too quietly for them to hear but with an obvious sense of urgency. When she finally returned, her expression was serious.

"She'll meet us," Emma said. "But she wants to meet on her terms, in a place she controls. It's risky, but I don't think we have much choice."

"Where and when?" Julian asked.

"At an old warehouse in the industrial district. She'll be there at midnight."

Victor grimaced. "Midnight? This sounds like a setup."

"It is her way of protecting herself," Emma said. "She is careful, and she knows how much danger there is, getting involved in something like this. But she agreed to meet, so she is interested in whatever it is we have to offer."

We'll do it—only we need to be ready for anything. Victor, you'll scout the area beforehand to ensure we're really not walking into a trap. Julian and I will go in for the meeting, and Emma will stay back here to keep an eye on everything from a distance.

The rest of the day, the team prepared. Victor left the cabin for the purpose of reconnaissance at the warehouse and its environs to notice any planned ambush or surveillance. Julian and Fiona went over the papers once again—to make sure they knew exactly what they were looking for in the broker's possession—and Emma set up her laptop and communication equipment, making sure she could stay in touch with them for the night.

As the sun dropped toward the horizon, the cabin grew tight with tension. They knew the dangers of involving anyone in Cross's world, but they knew, too, that they had no choice. If they were going to take him down, they needed information, and this broker was their best shot.

The sun was set, and by the time they finished preparing, the forest was in that time of near darkness. She sighed heavily in disgust, throwing her weapon across her shoulder holster and checking once more that her piece was ready to fire. Fiona was no stranger to danger, but this was different. It felt closer to home, the stakes higher, and the enemy much dangerous compared to what she had faced.

Julian was equally ready, his expression grim and determined. He stole a fast glance at Fiona, who nodded back at him, ready. Now, they left the cabin, with Victor leading them through the woods to where they had hidden the SUV.

The entire drive to the warehouse was so quiet it crackled with anxiety. There was barely enough time for Fiona to sift through a million things that could go wrong. She knew they were playing with fire, but they were running out of time and options. Cross was out there, and that time, if they didn't stop him, the outcome would be dreadful.

When they reached the industrial district, it was deserted. Warehouses reared up like silent sentinels, broken windows and walls covered with graffiti in the darkness. Victor parked the SUV a few blocks away, where they could make a quick takeoff if needed.

"I will stay here and keep the engine running," Victor said in a low voice. "If things go south, bail your ass out of there as quick as you can. I'll lay down cover fire."

Fiona and Julian nodded; then they got out of the car and raced quietly down the alley for about two blocks with a good idea of what they were going to do. The warehouse Emma indicated was third from the last but with the door partially open. Fiona's heart beat against her chest, and she reached to put her hand on the butt of her gun.

Julian pushed the door open, and they slipped inside. The interior was dark; light came from just a few bulbs flickering weakly from the ceiling. This place seemed immense and absolutely empty; the echo of their footsteps was the only thing that they could hear.

In the center of the warehouse, a single figure loomed, a long coat draped over her, features hidden in darkness. As they approached, she stepped forward into the light of their lanterns, revealing an sharp-featured woman, with piercing green eyes.

"You would be Fiona," she said in a confident smooth voice, "Aaand Julian; I have heard much about the two of you .'.

"And you must be our man," she returned, steadily. "We're here for information. You know what we want."

The broker smiled, a coldly calculating expression. "Yes, I do. But things of the sort don't come cheap. I need to know what you're offering in return."

Julian advanced forward; he held up a flash drive. 'This is everything we have on Devereaux and his associates: all the financial records, communications, and a few other things you might find interesting. It is more than enough to make you a very rich woman.

The broker's eyes blazed at the flash drive. "That's mighty impressive. But money isn't all that I want. I need protection and leverage. Cross is dangerous, and if I'm to help you, I need to believe you can keep me safe.

Looking the broker in the eye, Fiona said defiantly, "We are not here to make false promises. We offer you a chance to escape… to vanish with sufficient funds to live well for a lifetime. But we need your cooperation to bring Cross down. And without your information, we can't protect anyone—for you… or for us."

The broker stared at Fiona for a long moment, considering. Then she finally nodded. "All right. I'll give you what you need. But when this is all over, I'm out. No more deals, no more favors. I disappear, and you never hear from me again."

"Deal," Julian said as he handed her the flash drive.

She pocketed the drive, and then extracting a small encrypted phone, she entered a plugging sequence of commands and handed it over to Fiona.

"This phone's got a direct line to Cross's most trusted lieutenant," she said. The woman grimaced. "He deals with all of Cross's dirty work, starting from bribes and hits. So if you ever wanna get to the bottom of Cross, you've gotta get through him."

Fiona collected the phone, and in the background, her heart was thumping. This was it - the big break. This was the one lead that could land them eventually before the man behind their miserable lot.

"Thanks," Fiona told him, and by the tone of her voice, this was now filled with relief and determination.

The broker nodded. "Good luck. You're going to need it.

She turned and left, disappearing with the shadows of the warehouse. Fiona and Julian just stood there; the reality was settling on them.

"Let's get out of here," Julian said quietly.

Eamonn glanced at his watch as they turned around and headed back for the SUV with Victor waiting, engine running. By the time they were pulling out of the warehouse, and the city lights flickered under the cab, Fiona couldn't help but think they were right on the edge of a real disaster. The final stand with Alexander Cross was only a few days away. They were going to plunge into the middle of the gale.

But they were prepared. Whatever it was that would be, they would endure it together.