Chapter 7 - We Returned to the Diner—Only to Discover Marcus Had Been Waiting for Us
The Blue Lantern looked exactly as Elena had left it.
Empty.
Quiet.
Almost peaceful.
But Dominic immediately saw signs of intrusion.
A broken lock.
Fresh footprints.
They entered carefully.
Beneath the kitchen floor was a steel hatch.
Elena used the brass key.
The hatch opened.
Inside was an archive.
Photographs.
Documents.
Money transfers.
Blackmail records.
The entire Black Tide operation.
Elena found a final message from Lucian.
The Black Seal would expose everything.
But destroying it would also erase the evidence.
So Elena made a decision.
She copied everything.
Then sent the files to six journalists, three federal agencies, and two judges.
At that exact moment, the diner doors opened.
Marcus entered.
He was alone.
He looked tired.
Defeated.
But he was holding Noah's favorite stuffed bear.
Elena froze.
Marcus smiled.
“You're very clever.”
Dominic stepped forward.
“This ends tonight.”
Marcus raised his gun.
“No.”
He pointed it at Elena.
“It ends when she gives me the Black Seal.”
She stared at him.
“I already sent it.”
Marcus's expression changed.
“You what?”
Elena smiled.
“For the first time in your life, you don't control the information.”
Sirens filled the street.
Federal agents surrounded the diner.
Marcus looked at Dominic.
Then Elena.
Then Noah.
He lowered his weapon.
But Silas Kane wasn't there.
May you like
He had escaped.
And he wasn't finished.
