The explosion outside the county offices was a declaration of war. Joseph was no longer just protecting his empire, he was out for blood.
Victor sat in a dimly lit room with Julius and Anita. The air was thick with tension.
"We can't keep reacting," Julius said. "Joseph controls the police, the courts, even the streets. We need to dismantle his network."
Victor leaned forward. "We have three of his men in custody. If we push hard enough, one of them will break."
Anita exhaled sharply. "And if they don't?"
"Then we find another way," Victor said.
Julius nodded. "I'll handle the interrogations. But we need to be ready for Joseph's next move."
Victor turned to Anita. "Can you still feed them false information?"
She hesitated. "After the ambush? They might be suspicious. But I'll try."
Victor's jaw tightened. "Do whatever it takes. We bring Joseph down piece by piece."
But as he left the room, a nagging thought crept into his mind.
Joseph wasn't just a criminal, he was a master strategist.
And Victor had the sinking feeling that he was walking straight into a trap.
The next morning, Julius burst into Victor's office, his face pale.
"We have a problem."
Victor's stomach clenched. "What now?"
Julius threw a file onto the desk. "One of the men we arrested? Dead."
Victor's blood ran cold. "How?"
"Poisoned. Someone got to him inside the holding cells."
Anita's voice was tight. "Joseph still has people inside the system."
Victor's fists clenched. "Then we're running out of time."
Julius took a breath. "The other two are refusing to talk. But there's something else we found a burner phone on the dead guy. There was one last text sent before he died."
Victor grabbed the report and read the message aloud.
"It's done. He won't talk. Next target in place."
Anita whispered, "Next target?"
The realization hit Victor like a freight train.
"This isn't just about silencing a witness. Joseph is planning something bigger."
Julius' phone buzzed. He read the message, his face darkening.
Then he looked up at Victor.
"He just made his next move"
The message was chillingly simple.
"If you want to see him alive, back off."
Attached was a photo of a man bound to a chair, bruises on his face.
Julius swore under his breath. "That's Elijah Mwakazi."
Victor's heart pounded. Elijah was a former county official who had turned whistleblower. He had been helping Victor uncover fraudulent contracts linked to Joseph's empire.
Now, he was a hostage.
Anita's voice was firm. "If we don't act fast, he's dead."
Victor stood. "Then we move now."
Julius shook his head. "It's a trap, Victor."
"I know," Victor said. "But if we don't take that risk, Joseph wins."
Anita touched his arm. "Then let's make sure we're the ones setting the trap."
Victor met her gaze.
Joseph thought he had control.
But tonight, Victor was going to turn the game against him.
Victor had no choice, Elijah had to be saved. But Julius was right. This was a trap.
Sitting in the operations room, Victor studied the photo of Elijah. The dim lighting, the cracked walls, it suggested an old warehouse or storage facility.
Julius paced.
Anita tapped her fingers on the table. "What if we turn their trap into ours?"
Victor's eyes narrowed. "Explain."
She pulled up a map. "We know Joseph expects us to come charging in. But what if we use that against him? We fake an attack from the front while sneaking in from the back."
Julius nodded. "Divide their forces. Force them into confusion."
Victor clenched his fists. "Then let's do it."
As the team prepared, a message came through Victor's phone.
"Tick tock, Governor. Time is running out."
They had only one shot at this.
Failure was not an option.