Cassie didn't stop moving until she reached the outskirts of the city, where the noise and crowds gave way to silence and desolate streets. She found a run-down motel tucked away in a forgotten neighborhood, its neon sign flickering erratically in the dark. The place was a haven for people trying to stay off the radar, and that was exactly what she needed.
Inside her small, dimly lit room, she double-locked the door and pulled the blinds tight. She took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the flash drive in her pocket as she sat on the edge of the bed. Her thoughts raced, replaying Adam's words, his warning about the agency and the child they'd abandoned. If they were willing to go that far, how much deeper did the deception run?
Her phone buzzed, jolting her out of her thoughts. It was an encrypted number—one only a few people had. Against her better judgment, she answered.
"Cassie," a familiar voice spoke, low and cautious. It was Leah, her former handler. "What have you gotten yourself into?"
Cassie clenched her jaw, keeping her voice steady. "That's funny. I was about to ask the same thing. Seems like there's a lot the agency never told me."
A silence hung between them, tense and unyielding. Leah's voice softened, tinged with what sounded like regret. "Listen, Cass, I don't have much time. They know you've seen Adam's message. They're coming for you, and they won't stop until they find you."
"I figured," Cassie replied, pacing the small room. "What I don't understand is why you're warning me. If they know I've seen the video, that puts you at risk too."
Leah's voice was barely above a whisper. "I owe you. After Moscow, I knew things were… off. I was supposed to tell you the truth then, but they silenced me. You deserved better."
Cassie's heart tightened. She wanted to believe Leah, to think that someone inside the agency still had her back. But trust was a luxury she couldn't afford.
"You're risking a lot by calling me," Cassie said, her tone wary. "If you're really trying to help, tell me where the boy's family is. I need to know what Adam was trying to protect."
There was a pause, and she could almost hear Leah's hesitation over the line. "They're in Prague. The father's name is Nikolai Sokolov. He has something the agency wants, something they're willing to kill for. And they'll use the boy to get it."
"What is it?" Cassie pressed. "What's so important that they'd hunt down a child's family halfway across the world?"
Leah's voice dropped, barely audible. "It's a list. Names of people inside the agency—double agents, informants, everyone involved in their hidden agenda. If that list gets out, it would shatter everything."
Cassie swallowed, the enormity of the revelation settling over her. A list of operatives who'd compromised their own people, sold out to unknown forces. No wonder the agency wanted it buried. "And you're telling me this because…?"
Leah took a shaky breath. "Because I can't live with it anymore, Cass. I've seen too many good people disappear because they got too close. But I can't leave. You're the only one who can stop them."
Cassie nodded, her voice hardening. "Then help me. Tell me where to find Sokolov."
Leah hesitated, as if weighing the risk, before finally responding. "The last I heard, he was hiding in a safe house on the outskirts of Prague. He moves around, but there's a bar—The Iron Mask. Look for a bartender named Viktor. He can lead you to him."
Cassie committed the details to memory, her mind already calculating the logistics. "Thank you, Leah. For whatever this is worth."
Leah's voice cracked slightly, and for a moment, Cassie thought she heard a hint of tears. "Be careful, Cassie. They'll stop at nothing. And don't trust anyone. Not even me."
The line went dead.
Cassie exhaled, her pulse racing. Prague. She would have to move quickly if she wanted to stay ahead of the agency's trackers. They'd already proven they could find her anywhere, and with the information Leah had just given her, she'd made herself an even bigger target.
She booked a one-way ticket under a false name and left the motel, her mind focused on the next steps. By the time she reached the airport, she'd switched out her SIM card and was wearing a wig and glasses, blending into the sea of travelers. She couldn't afford any slip-ups now. Not when the stakes had become life and death.
---
The flight to Prague felt endless, each hour stretching her nerves tighter. By the time they landed, Cassie was on edge, her senses heightened, anticipating every movement around her. As she exited customs, her eyes darted across the faces around her, searching for any sign of danger.
The cold Prague air hit her as she stepped outside, a sharp reminder that she was alone, far from any support. She pulled her coat tighter around herself, scanning the cityscape ahead. The Iron Mask was her first stop.
The bar was nestled in a narrow side street, its windows dimly lit and almost entirely covered by layers of grime. She pushed open the door and was greeted by the stale scent of cigarettes and cheap beer. The few patrons scattered around didn't look up as she entered, each one focused on their own drinks and private conversations.
Cassie approached the bar, her gaze settling on the burly man polishing glasses with a cloth that looked like it hadn't been washed in weeks. "I'm looking for Viktor," she said, her voice steady.
The bartender's eyes narrowed, sizing her up. "Depends on who's asking."
"A friend of Leah's." Cassie's tone was calm, but her posture remained tense, ready for anything. "She said you could help me find someone."
He studied her for a long moment, then finally nodded. "Leah doesn't usually send people my way, so you must be someone important."
He motioned for her to follow him to a back room. The moment they were alone, he lowered his voice. "If you're looking for Sokolov, you're not the only one. People have been asking about him for weeks."
Cassie leaned forward, her voice urgent. "Where is he, Viktor? I need to talk to him before they get to him."
Viktor scratched his beard, his eyes darting toward the bar entrance. "Last I heard, he was laying low in a safe house by the old city wall. But listen, lady—he doesn't trust anyone. You're walking into a lion's den."
Cassie's expression hardened. "That makes two of us."