The drive north felt like an eternity, the van cutting through the night as the tension inside grew heavier by the mile. Kira kept her eyes on the road, but her hands were gripping the steering wheel tighter than usual. The weight of what had just happened at the docks was sinking in. Reed's people had been prepared, like they knew exactly when and where to strike.
In the back, Hayes sat across from Reed, watching him carefully. The businessman was still calm, too calm for a man who had just seen his entire operation begin to crumble. It made Hayes' skin crawl. His confidence was more dangerous than any gunman or armed SUV.
Wallace sat beside Hayes, arms crossed, his eyes darting between Reed and the van's windows. The silence was deafening, but it felt necessary. No one wanted to break the uneasy truce in the air just yet.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, Kira spoke up. "We're almost there. The cabin's about another twenty minutes."
Hayes nodded but didn't take their eyes off Reed. "You've got people everywhere, don't you? How far do they reach, Reed?"
Reed chuckled, leaning back against the van's cold metal wall. "You're asking the wrong questions, Detective. It's not about how far they reach—it's about how deep they go."
"Then who are they?" Wallace snapped. "Because it's clear you're just the frontman for something bigger. So who are we really dealing with?"
Reed's smile grew wider, but he said nothing.
"Answer him!" Hayes slammed a fist into the wall next to Reed's head, the metal vibrating with a hollow clang. For the first time, Reed's grin faltered.
"You really want to know?" Reed asked, his voice lowering as he leaned forward, his cuffs clinking against the van's floor. "You think bringing me in will unravel the whole web, but you've only just touched the surface. My connections are just one thread, Detective. And when you pull at it, the rest of the web tightens."
Hayes narrowed their eyes. "Enough with the metaphors. Who's pulling your strings?"
Reed leaned back again, looking out the window with a distant expression. "Let's just say there are some very powerful people who profit from chaos. Businessmen, politicians, even law enforcement. You're not fighting a man, Detective. You're fighting a system."
Wallace swore under his breath. "You're saying we've got corrupt cops involved in this?"
Reed's eyes flicked to Wallace, a glint of amusement returning to his gaze. "You're catching on. But it's more than just cops. You think the police are the only ones who can be bought? Everyone has a price."
Hayes' blood ran cold. Reed wasn't just bluffing. His calm, his arrogance—it came from knowing that they weren't just dealing with a single crime syndicate. This was organized, deeply embedded corruption. The kind that could go all the way to the top.
Before anyone could push Reed further, the van jolted as Kira turned off the main road, the tires crunching over gravel. The cabin came into view, a small, nondescript building nestled in the middle of a forest clearing. The darkness surrounding it made it feel even more isolated, and for the first time that night, a flicker of unease crossed Kira's face.
"We're here," she said, cutting the engine. The sudden silence was thick and unnerving.
Hayes stepped out first, eyes scanning the area. The trees stood tall and silent, the only sound the distant rustling of leaves in the wind. It seemed safe enough, but after everything they'd been through tonight, Hayes wasn't taking any chances.
Wallace pulled Reed out of the van, his grip firm on the businessman's arm as they led him toward the cabin. Kira stayed behind for a moment, adjusting her equipment before following them inside.
The cabin was sparse but functional—wooden furniture, a small fireplace, and a few dusty old chairs. It wasn't much, but it would do for now. Reed was placed in one of the chairs, his cuffs still on as Wallace and Hayes stood on either side of him.
"We're not playing games anymore," Hayes said, their voice steely. "You talk, or this gets a lot worse for you."
Reed glanced around the room, his eyes lingering on the small windows and the single door. "You're wasting your time. Even if I told you everything, it wouldn't make a difference. The people I work for—they'll come for you too. This is bigger than me, Detective. Bigger than all of us."
Kira, who had been standing near the door, finally spoke up. "So why not just give us something? If you're so convinced this 'web' can't be taken down, why not tell us who's pulling the strings? Maybe save yourself a bit of trouble."
Reed smiled again, but this time it was smaller, more contained. "Because I know something you don't."
Hayes' patience snapped. "And what's that?"
Reed's voice dropped to a whisper, his eyes gleaming with malicious satisfaction. "You've got a rat in your team."
The room fell into an icy silence. The words hung in the air like a bomb waiting to go off. Hayes and Wallace exchanged a glance, their minds racing through the implications.
Kira was the first to break the silence. "What are you talking about?"
Reed's smile returned in full force, his eyes locking on hers. "One of you isn't who they say they are. One of you is working for me."
Hayes felt the room tilt, the walls closing in as the weight of Reed's revelation pressed down on them. It couldn't be true. Not after everything they'd been through. But the certainty in Reed's voice—it was unnerving.
Wallace clenched his fists. "You're lying."
"Am I?" Reed asked, his gaze flicking between the three of them. "Why do you think I've been so calm this whole time? Why do you think I'm not panicking, even now? Because I know I won't be in these cuffs for long."
Kira stepped forward, her voice shaking slightly. "This is just another mind game. You're trying to divide us."
"Maybe," Reed shrugged. "Or maybe I'm just telling you the truth. Either way, you'll start to wonder. Every look, every word—you'll start to doubt each other. And that's when it'll all fall apart."
Hayes felt a cold sweat break out on their skin. Reed had managed to plant a seed of doubt, and it was already taking root. It was a brilliant move—turn them against each other without lifting a finger.
But they couldn't afford to lose focus. Not now.
"We're not falling for your games," Hayes said, trying to sound more confident than they felt. "You're just trying to buy yourself time."
Reed's smile remained, unshaken. "Time's all I need, Detective. Time and doubt."