Page 27 of A Ballad of Blackbirds and Betrayal

“Handle it,” Atticus directed to Cal, his tone leaving no room for discussion.

“Already on it,” Cal replied, fingers resuming their dance across the keyboard.The constant, rhythmic clicking provided an odd sort of comfort in the midst of chaos—the sound of someone competent working at what they did best.“Dr.Wells is officially in Phoenix caring for her mother who had a stroke.I’ve created a digital trail complete with hotel reservations, meal deliveries, and even a very nice online review of a restaurant she definitely didn’t eat at last night.”

Sabrina blinked.“That’s…disturbing.”She found herself reflexively checking her phone, half expecting to find unfamiliar texts and photos documenting a trip she’d never taken.

“Yet useful,” Eden pointed out, the slight curve of her lips revealing a hint of the woman beneath the operative’s demeanor.A tiny scar at the corner of her mouth became more pronounced when she smiled—the physical remnant of some past violence that hadn’t diminished her capacity for humor.

“Privacy is largely an illusion in the digital age,” Cal explained without looking up from his screens.He paused to take a long drink from his energy drink, the slight tremor in his hands betraying how long he’d been operating on caffeine and adrenaline.“Most people just don’t have someone like me manipulating their illusion.”

Atticus checked his watch, a Rolex with a scratch across the face that he’d obviously never bothered to repair.“We reconvene at 0800 tomorrow.Nate, Eden—you move at 2300 hours.The rest of you know your assignments.”

The team dispersed, leaving Sabrina standing in the middle of the command center, suddenly aware of how completely her life had changed in a matter of hours.

Jade appeared at her elbow.“I’ll show you to the lab.You’ll want to get started before Nate and Eden return with the samples.”

* * *

Several hours later and more than a thousand miles away, Senator Warren Mitchell sat in his private office in the Russell Senate Building.He projected exactly the image he’d cultivated over three terms—tasteful power, old-money refinement, the gravitas of a statesman who shaped America’s future.Afternoon sunlight spilled through tall windows, illuminating the rich mahogany of his desk and the carefully arranged photographs of Mitchell with three different presidents.

What the office did not reveal was the man who sat behind the antique desk, his manicured fingers idly turning a Montblanc pen as he listened to the voice on his secure line.

“Are you absolutely certain?”Mitchell’s voice remained perfectly modulated despite the rage building inside him.For over thirty years in politics, he’d mastered the art of never revealing his true emotions.That discipline had served him well in board rooms, on the Senate floor, and in the shadowy transactions that had built his true power base.

“Yes, sir,” his security chief confirmed.“Our surveillance team captured the extraction.Dr.Wells was removed from the cafe by Dynamis operatives approximately nine minutes after Cho’s collapse.”

Mitchell set the pen down with deliberate care.“And the visual confirmation?”

“Facial recognition is 98.7 percent positive.We caught a partial of him in a vehicle.Cameron himself was on site.The woman was transferred to an unmarked vehicle and satellite shows she was taken directly to their headquarters.She’s there now.”

Eight years.For eight years, Atticus Cameron had played the grieving widower, the dedicated father, the successful businessman who’d moved past tragedy to build his security empire.He’d accepted Mitchell’s condolences at his wife’s funeral, shaken his hand at charity galas, maintained the perfect façade of ignorance.

And all along, he’d been hunting.

Mitchell had always known it was a possibility.He hadn’t survived in politics—hadn’t built a bioweapons empire beneath the veneer of public service—by underestimating his opponents.But Cameron had been patient, methodical, revealing nothing until now.

“Sir,” his security chief continued, “we need to consider containment protocols.If Dr.Wells shared Cho’s information with Cameron?—”

“Then Atticus knows everything,” Mitchell completed the thought, his voice cold with fury.“Which means he’s known about my involvement in his wife’s death for some time.This isn’t a recent development—it’s the culmination of a very long game.”

The realization sparked equal parts rage and reluctant admiration.Cameron had learned to play politics after all, despite his military bluntness.He’d waited, gathered evidence, built his case while maintaining a cordial relationship with the man he knew had murdered his wife.

Mitchell swiveled his chair to face the window, gazing across the Capitol grounds as he considered his next move.The Blackbird demonstration was scheduled for two days from now.Two days until Mitchell would showcase his bioweapon to international buyers who’d pay billions for the technology.Two days until his power would transcend mere political influence.

“Accelerate the timetable,” he ordered.“I want the demonstration moved up.”

“Sir, the preparation team has indicated?—”

“I don’t care what they’ve indicated,” Mitchell cut in, his voice dropping to the quiet register that made staffers tremble.“Get it done.And I want Dr.Wells eliminated.No traces, no connections.Her apartment, her records, anything that might link her to Cho or BioGenix—all of it disappears.”

“Yes, sir.And Cameron?”

Mitchell’s lips curved in a cold smile as he stared at the distant Washington Monument.“Mr.Cameron believes he’s been patient.Let’s show him what true patience looks like.”He opened his desk drawer and removed a small dossier.“Deploy the Georgetown team.I want eyes on his daughter.”

“Do you want us to move on the girl?”

“Not yet,” Mitchell replied, contemplating the photograph of Anna Cameron that had been taken just weeks ago on the Georgetown campus.Pretty girl.Looked like her mother.“For now, just make sure Cameron knows we can reach her anytime we choose.”

He was about to hang up when another thought occurred to him.“And send someone to BioGenix.Dr.Cho may have shared more than we realize.I want to know exactly what happened in that meeting.Have them access the surveillance footage from her office.”

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