The dawn crept over the horizon, casting long beams of pale light through the cabin's small windows. The tension in the air was as thick as it had been the night before, but now it was laced with exhaustion. No one had slept well. The seed Reed had planted was growing, and it was clear on each face as they gathered around the small kitchen table, sipping bitter coffee in silence.
Hayes stood at the far end of the room, eyes scanning the team. Kira's face was tense, her hands fidgeting with her cup, while Wallace's arms were crossed, his jaw clenched tight. They weren't speaking to each other, and that silence felt more dangerous than any argument.
"We need to move," Hayes said, breaking the stillness. "Reed's sitting in that back room, waiting for us to crack. We can't give him the satisfaction."
Wallace looked up from his coffee, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You think he's bluffing?"
"I think he's playing mind games," Hayes replied. "He wants us to turn on each other. That's his play. We stick to the plan. We'll find out who's pulling his strings, but we don't lose focus."
Kira gave a small, bitter laugh. "Easier said than done when every second thought is about who might be stabbing us in the back."
Wallace shifted uncomfortably in his seat but said nothing. The room fell into uneasy silence again until the sound of a door creaking open made them all jump.
It was Reed, of course. His smug face appeared at the doorway, hands still bound but demeanor as arrogant as ever. "Good morning, Detective," he said, his voice dripping with amusement. "I trust you slept well?"
Hayes glared at him. "Sit down."
Reed raised an eyebrow, then sauntered over to a chair at the far end of the table, as though he were an invited guest. The look on his face said it all: he knew they were unraveling, and he was enjoying every second of it.
"Let's not waste time," Hayes said, leaning forward. "We know you're just a puppet, Reed. So tell us—who's really pulling the strings?"
Reed leaned back in his chair, stretching out his arms as far as the cuffs allowed. "Now, now, Detective. That's a rather blunt way of putting things. I prefer to think of myself as… an entrepreneur. I work for those who have the most to offer. And trust me, the people I work for are far above your pay grade."
Wallace slammed his fist onto the table. "Names, Reed! We're not playing around anymore!"
Reed barely flinched. "Oh, I believe you're serious. But here's the thing—you're out of your depth. This whole operation? It's bigger than you think. Taking me down won't solve anything."
Hayes frowned. They had expected deflection, but Reed's confidence was unnerving. He seemed far too relaxed for someone in his position. And that only meant one thing—he believed his backers were untouchable.
"Why don't you save yourself the trouble, then?" Kira asked, her voice sharp. "Tell us who's pulling the strings, and maybe we can offer you something in return."
Reed chuckled, shaking his head. "You really think you have anything I want? You're already losing, Detective. Every second you waste here is another second my people are working to undo everything you've built. You're chasing ghosts, and by the time you catch up, there won't be anything left for you to find."
Wallace started to speak, but Hayes cut him off with a glance. They needed to approach this differently. "What's your angle, Reed? Why even drop hints? You've been slippery from the start. What changed?"
Reed's smile widened. "Finally, the right question." He leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering. "I don't want to go down alone. If I'm going to burn, I want to take someone with me. That's why I told you about the rat."
Hayes narrowed their eyes. "You're lying. You're trying to divide us."
"I don't need to lie, Detective," Reed said, his eyes gleaming. "The truth is enough. You're already tearing at the seams. All I had to do was nudge things in the right direction."
Kira stood abruptly, knocking her chair back. "Enough of this. We're wasting time. He's just stalling."
"Am I?" Reed asked, his gaze following her movements. "Or is the real problem that you don't want to believe me? After all, it would be easier to pretend there's no rot in your little team. Easier to ignore the possibility that one of you is already working against the others."
The words hung in the air like poison. Hayes felt the pit in their stomach deepen. The doubt had been there since last night, gnawing at them. And now it was growing stronger with every word Reed spoke.
Wallace shot a glance at Hayes, his brow furrowed. "We can't let him get in our heads. That's what he wants."
"I'm not in your head, Detective," Reed replied smoothly. "I'm simply stating facts. You don't trust each other anymore. That's the truth, plain and simple. And you can either keep fighting it, or you can accept it."
Hayes had had enough. "We'll figure out what's going on, but it won't be because you said so, Reed. You're playing a dangerous game."
Reed's smile faltered, just for a moment. "Oh, I know. But the difference between us, Detective, is that I'm used to playing with fire. Can you say the same?"
Before Hayes could respond, Kira stormed toward the door, her fists clenched. "I'm going to check the perimeter," she muttered without looking back. Wallace stood up too, tension still radiating from his body, but he stayed silent as he followed her outside.
Hayes remained, facing Reed alone now, the atmosphere thick with unspoken frustration. "What's your endgame, Reed? You think we'll fall apart and let you walk away?"
Reed's eyes gleamed again, his calm demeanor returning. "I don't need you to fall apart, Detective. I just need you to doubt. That's how this game is won. With every minute you second-guess yourself, you give me more time. And trust me, time is all I need."
Hayes glared at him, but inside, they couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that Reed was right. Doubt was a powerful weapon, and it was already starting to infect the team. The question was—how far would it go?
Outside, Kira leaned against a tree, breathing deeply to calm herself. Wallace approached, his expression softening as he stood beside her.
"We can't let him get to us," Wallace said quietly. "Whatever his game is, we're smarter than that."
Kira nodded but didn't speak. Her mind was racing. The seeds of doubt Reed had planted were growing, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Maybe it wasn't Reed lying. Maybe someone on their team really was working against them.
She shook her head, pushing the thought away. No. They had been through too much together to turn on each other now. But as she glanced back at the cabin, at the shadow of Hayes inside, the doubt lingered, refusing to fade.