Edge of the Dark

Chapter 14: Chapter 14: The Web of Deception

The cold wind beat against the café window, the neon lights outside casting blurred reflections on the dark walls, adding an eerie atmosphere to the space. Ethan sat alone in a corner, his eyes fixed on the papers spread out in front of him. The information James had left behind had shaken him. Yet amidst the fog of truth, something didn't sit right.

He rubbed his temples, trying to untangle the web of thoughts in his head. Langley's death, Lila's betrayal, the "Dark Sovereign" organization, Saville, and the sudden appearance of James—all of these pieces seemed to fit together, drawing him deeper into something much darker than he had anticipated.

The sound of his phone vibrating broke his concentration. Glancing at the caller ID, Ethan saw that it was Kara, the head of the police forensics department.

"Ethan," Kara's voice came through the line, urgent and low. "We've analyzed the fingerprints and residue from the warehouse. We've found something."

Ethan's heart skipped a beat. He stood up, grabbing his coat. "I'll be there right away."

Forensics Lab

Kara handed him a file, her face showing both exhaustion and concern. She had spent the last two nights poring over the data, but the results only made her more uneasy.

"These fingerprints," Kara said, her tone cautious. "Part of them match Langley's, consistent with what we found at his apartment. But there's another print... it belongs to someone already listed as deceased in the system."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Deceased? What do you mean?"

Kara opened the file on the computer, displaying a mugshot. "This man's name is Evan Monroe. He was declared dead three years ago in a missing persons case, and the investigation was closed. But his fingerprints were found at the warehouse."

Ethan stared at the file. The name, the face—nothing seemed to connect this man to anything he had encountered before.

"Who is he?" Ethan asked.

Kara clicked through more pages. "He was a senior analyst in intelligence before disappearing. The police assumed he died during some unreported cross-border deal gone wrong, but clearly, he's still alive. And he's probably tied to the 'Dark Sovereign.'"

Ethan's chest tightened. This man wasn't just some random figure; there was more to him.

"And how do you know all this?"

Kara tapped a few more keys. "I dug through old files and cross-referenced. Evan Monroe had links to several illegal transactions, and his connections to international criminal syndicates like the 'Dark Sovereign' are undeniable."

Ethan's eyes scanned the file again. One picture caught his attention—a blurry surveillance shot showing Evan at an airport. Standing next to him was none other than Lila.

"When was this taken?" Ethan asked, his voice suddenly colder.

"A week ago, at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. They were seen boarding a private jet together, heading to London."

Ethan's jaw tightened. Lila, again. She wasn't just involved with Saville, she was now connected with a dead intelligence officer who had ties to global crime networks. His mind raced with questions—why had Lila lied? What was she hiding?

The Informant's Lair

After leaving the lab, Ethan carefully sifted through the information he had gathered. He needed to find out more about Evan Monroe. And for that, he had a contact—someone with deep ties to the underground intelligence community.

Benji operated in the underbelly of the city, his hideout located in a nondescript bar in the old district. Ethan entered the dimly lit establishment, his presence quickly acknowledged by the tense glances of the patrons. But he was used to being watched, so he ignored the stares and walked straight to the backroom.

"Ethan," Benji greeted him, his eyes gleaming with a hint of knowing, as if he had expected the visit. "I figured you'd come to me eventually."

"I need information on Evan Monroe," Ethan said, cutting to the chase.

Benji's smile faded, his fingers quickly tapping a few keys on his laptop. "You always seem to be after the dangerous ones. Monroe's a ghost—one of those guys who made a name for himself and then disappeared. But trust me, no one in the 'Dark Sovereign' or their allies are talking about him without reason."

The screen lit up, showing a series of documents and photos. Benji pointed to a particular image of a building in the heart of London's financial district. "That's where he's been spotted recently. It's a private meeting point for some of the most influential criminals in the world. He's rumored to be setting up a deal with a group called the 'Specter Consortium.'" n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Specter Consortium?" Ethan furrowed his brow. "Sounds like a legitimate company."

"Legitimate?" Benji chuckled darkly. "They're just the front. They've been laundering money for Saville and his people for years, helping funnel dirty money through legitimate financial channels. You're looking at a massive laundering operation here."

Ethan's mind raced. The scope of what Benji was saying was terrifying. This wasn't just about black market deals or weapons trafficking—it was a full-scale operation, targeting the global economy.

"Where's the meeting taking place?" Ethan asked, his tone firm.

Benji shrugged. "Don't know exactly, but Monroe's been seen entering and leaving a location in London. I can send you the coordinates, but be careful. This place is off the grid."

Ethan nodded. "I'll take it from here."

As he turned to leave, Benji added, "Ethan, if you're planning on going after Monroe and the 'Specter Consortium,' you should know—you're not just up against some petty criminals. These people are dangerous. If you go in blindly, you'll be dead before you can blink."

Ethan looked back briefly, his expression unreadable. "I've been in worse situations."

The Eyes Watching

Not long after Ethan left the bar, a shadowy figure emerged from the dark alley across the street, quietly observing him. This person had been following Ethan for days now, tracking his every move. A phone call was made in the stillness of the night, the voice on the other end low and calculating.

"He's moving," the figure said. "Do we begin the next phase?"

The voice on the phone responded, calm and deliberate. "Yes, let him go to London. We will be waiting."

The line went dead, and the figure disappeared into the shadows as if swallowed by the night.

The Shadows of London

Ethan boarded the flight to London with a sense of foreboding gnawing at him. As the plane soared through the clouds, his mind continued to churn with the new information. He had known this case would lead him into dangerous territory, but he now understood just how deep the rabbit hole went.

The plane dipped beneath the clouds as it neared London, the city's lights beginning to twinkle in the distance. But beneath the gleaming skyline, Ethan knew darkness was waiting. And this time, it wasn't just about solving a case—it was about surviving the deadly game that had ensnared him.

The night air was cold as the plane touched down, but Ethan could feel the weight of the coming confrontation settling in his chest. The real battle was only beginning.