Chapter 16 - The Trap Begins to Close
Police established a covert operation around the apartment building.
The public believed the investigation had slowed.
In reality, dozens of officers quietly occupied neighboring buildings.
Thermal cameras monitored the underground tunnels.
Motion sensors were hidden inside abandoned maintenance shafts.
Michael insisted on participating.
Bennett refused.
"You've already been targeted."
"He targeted my family."
"Exactly."
"I'm not sitting at home."
She looked at him carefully.
"Then you follow every instruction."
He nodded.
Late that evening, one of the underground sensors activated.
Movement.
Slow.
Careful.
The figure knew where every blind spot was located.
Bennett watched the thermal monitor.
"One person."
Another technician interrupted.
"No..."
He enlarged the image.
"There are two."
The second figure remained several meters behind the first.
Keeping distance.
Almost as if following.
The first person reached the hidden chamber beneath Michael's apartment.
Stopped.
Knelt beside the wall.
Then removed something from a loose brick.
"A package," one officer whispered.
"Move in?"
"Negative."
Bennett wanted to know where it was going.
The figure climbed back into the tunnel carrying the package.
The second figure continued following.
Suddenly...
The first figure turned around.
Both silhouettes froze.
Even through thermal imaging, the tension was obvious.
Then the first person raised both hands.
Not surrendering.
Warning.
The second figure ignored the gesture.
Seconds later...
A third heat signature appeared.
No one in the command room had seen where it came from.
Three figures.
Then four.
Then five.
The tunnel beneath the apartment was no longer empty.
Someone had been living there.
Several someones.
At the same moment, every motion detector inside the building activated simultaneously.
Officer Ramirez looked at Bennett.
"They're moving."
"How many?"
"I don't know."
"The sensors can't count anymore."
May you like
The entire underground network had suddenly come alive.
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