Caldwell's office was dimly lit, the scent of old paper and leather filling the air. A single desk lamp cast long shadows across the room, making the tension between them feel even heavier. Jillian and her team had only five minutes to convince him, and every second counted.
Dante stepped forward first, his expression unreadable as he placed a small flash drive onto Caldwell's polished mahogany desk. "This contains records of Harlond's private transactions—payoffs, bribes, disappearances. Your name is on that list." His voice was calm, but the weight of his words pressed down like a hammer.
Caldwell stiffened, his fingers twitching toward the drive, but he didn't pick it up. "I've been loyal to Harlond for years. Why would he turn on me?" His voice was steady, but Jillian caught the flicker of doubt in his eyes.
Leo leaned against the desk, his sharp gaze never leaving Caldwell. "Because that's what men like him do. Your name is listed under 'expendable assets.' You've outlived your usefulness." The words were like a knife twisting in a wound.
Jillian stepped in before Caldwell could respond, her voice softer but no less firm. "Harlond is planning something big. Something dangerous. If he succeeds, innocent people will suffer—and you won't be spared just because you've been loyal." She reached into the folder she carried and pulled out a grainy photograph, sliding it across the desk.
Caldwell's breath hitched as his eyes landed on the image. It was a man he clearly recognized—someone he never expected to see again. His hand trembled slightly as he picked up the photo. "That's impossible. He's supposed to be dead."
Jillian nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Harlond lied. If he lied about this, what else has he been hiding?"
Leo folded his arms, his gaze never wavering. "You have a family, don't you? A wife. A daughter."
Caldwell's jaw clenched. The flicker of doubt in his eyes had turned into something else—fear.
"If you stay with Harlond, they won't be safe," Jillian continued. "But if you help us, we can make sure they are."
A heavy silence stretched between them. The only sound was the soft ticking of a clock on the far wall. Caldwell inhaled deeply, rubbing a hand over his face before exhaling sharply. His eyes flicked between them, searching for deception, for weakness.
Finally, he let out a slow breath and reached for the flash drive. "What exactly do you need me to do?"
Jillian exchanged a glance with Dante and Leo. They had him. Now, the real game began.
Jillian allowed a small, measured breath to escape. They had gotten through the first hurdle, but this was only the beginning.
"We need information," she said, her voice steady. "Details on Harlond's next moves, his connections, and most importantly—who he's meeting with."
Caldwell leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the desk. His expression was unreadable, but the hesitation in his posture was evident. "You're asking me to betray a man who's built his empire on silencing people like me," he said, his voice low. "If he finds out—"
"He won't," Dante cut in sharply. "Not if you're careful. You've worked under him for years; you know how he operates. If you truly believe he's going to protect you in the end, then walk away now. But if you don't—if you know deep down that you're just another name on his list—then this is your only chance to get ahead of him."
Caldwell exhaled through his nose, considering. "You have a point." He glanced at the flash drive, then back at Jillian. "But this isn't enough. If I go against Harlond, I need an assurance that I won't be left hanging when things go south."
Jillian nodded. "We can offer protection. We have safe houses, contacts that Harlond doesn't control. But you have to be willing to take the first step."
Leo pulled out a folded piece of paper and slid it across the desk. "This is a burner number. You can use it to contact us securely. No names, no traces. You decide when you're in."
Caldwell hesitated for only a second before picking up the paper. "Harlond has a meeting in two days. High stakes. Private location. If you want real leverage, that's your best shot."
Jillian's heart pounded, but she kept her expression neutral. "Where?"
Caldwell hesitated, then sighed. "I don't know the exact place yet, but I can find out. Give me time."
"You have twenty-four hours," Dante said. "We'll be in touch."
Caldwell nodded. As they turned to leave, Jillian stole one last glance at him. His fingers were still gripping the flash drive tightly, as if it held the weight of his future.
As they stepped outside into the cold night air, Leo exhaled. "Do you think he'll follow through?"
Jillian didn't answer right away. She looked ahead, her mind already planning their next move.
"He doesn't have a choice," she finally said. "Not anymore."
The cold night air wrapped around them as they walked away from Caldwell's office, their footsteps muffled against the damp pavement. Jillian's mind raced with possibilities, but there was no room for error. They had twenty-four hours before Caldwell's information would either make or break their plan.
Dante walked beside her, his hands shoved into his pockets. "We need to prepare for the worst. If Caldwell doesn't pull through, we'll need another way into that meeting."
Leo nodded in agreement. "Harlond's security will be tight. We need disguises, fake credentials—something to blend in. We can't just barge in like last time."
Jillian exhaled sharply. "Then we find another way. If Harlond's hosting high-profile guests, he won't do it in an open space. He'll want somewhere private, secure, and completely under his control." She turned to Leo. "We need locations. Anything he owns or has ties to."
Leo pulled out his phone, already typing away. "I'm on it."
Dante glanced around, scanning the darkened streets. "We also need an exit plan. If things go sideways, we can't be trapped."
Jillian's stomach tightened. This wasn't just about gathering intelligence anymore. If Harlond was planning something big, this could be their only chance to stop him before it was too late.
As they reached their safe house, Jillian hesitated at the door. "Get some rest," she said. "Tomorrow, we'll either have our way in—or we'll have to make one."
The others nodded, disappearing inside. But Jillian lingered a moment longer, staring into the night. She wasn't afraid of what they were about to do.
She was afraid of what they might find.
Time flew, and soon Caldwell sent the location. Without hesitation, Jillian and her team moved into action, ready to uncover Harlond's secrets.
As night fell, Jillian and her team arrived at the location, a secluded estate on the outskirts of the city. They kept to the shadows, surveying the heavily guarded perimeter. Dante signaled to Leo, who quickly hacked into the security feeds, giving them a view inside.
"There," Leo whispered, pointing to a live feed showing Harlond entering a private meeting room.
Jillian exhaled sharply. "This is it. We go in quiet, get what we need, and get out before anyone knows we were here."
With a final nod, they moved in, ready to uncover the truth.