THE NEXT TARGET
1273 Words
The drive back from the cabin took four hours.
Declan spent them staring out the window, the crumpled letter in his pocket, Daniel's words echoing in his head. I'll find you. Not a threat. A promise.
Reyes drove in silence, her hands tight on the wheel. The agents in the back seat spoke in low voices, reviewing the search of the cabin. They'd found nothing—no weapons, no documents, no clues. Just the letter and a bed that hadn't been slept in for months.
"He knew we were coming," Reyes said finally.
"Of course he did. He's been watching us. Probably heard the radio traffic."
"Then we need to change our tactics. Go dark. Use encrypted channels only."
"That won't stop him. He's not working alone. He has people inside. People we don't know about."
"Elias's network?"
"Different. Daniel's network. People he's recruited over the past twenty years. People who believe in his mission."
"What mission?"
"To destroy everything Elias built. Including the people who helped him."
Reyes glanced at him. "That's a lot of people."
"I know. And he's already started."
---
Declan's phone buzzed.
A text message. Unknown number.
Check the news.
He pulled up a local news website.
The headline stopped his heart.
Prominent Attorney Found Dead in Apparent Accident.
Lawrence Morrison. Judge Morrison's brother. The man who had been arrested just weeks ago, who was awaiting trial for his role in Elias's network.
He was dead.
Declan read the article. Lawrence had been found in his jail cell. The guards said he'd fallen. Hit his head. Died instantly.
But Declan knew the truth.
Daniel had gotten to him.
Even in custody.
Even under guard.
---
"How is this possible?" Reyes asked, her face pale.
"Daniel has people inside. Guards. Lawyers. Maybe even judges."
"We vetted everyone connected to Lawrence's case."
"Then Daniel got to someone you didn't vet. Someone you didn't know existed."
Reyes slammed her hand against the steering wheel.
"We need to find him. Before he kills again."
"He's not going to stop. Not until everyone on his list is dead."
"What list?"
"The one Elias kept. The one we found in the hidden room. Daniel has a copy."
"How do you know?"
"Because he told me. And because he's already crossed off at least two names."
---
Declan called Claire.
"Are you and Finn safe?"
"We're fine. There's a police car outside. Reyes called."
"Don't leave the house. Don't let anyone in. Not even someone you know."
"Declan, what's going on?"
"Daniel killed Lawrence Morrison. In his jail cell."
Claire was silent for a moment.
"Are you coming home?"
"Soon. I need to check on something first."
"What?"
"Lara. She might be on his list."
---
Declan drove to Lara's house.
The house with yellow curtains. The place where it had all started.
She was sitting on the porch, a cup of tea in her hands, watching the sunset. She looked up when he got out of the car.
"Declan. I was wondering when you'd come."
"Have you heard from Daniel?"
"Daniel? My cousin?"
"He's been killing people. People who helped Elias. Lawrence Morrison died today."
Lara's face went pale.
"I haven't seen Daniel in years. Not since before Elias died."
"He might come for you. You were part of Elias's network. You helped him."
"I was a victim."
"You were also an accomplice. Daniel might not see the difference."
Lara set her tea down.
"What do you want me to do?"
"Go somewhere safe. Somewhere he can't find you."
"There's nowhere safe. Not from him."
"Then come with me. To Claire's house. We have police protection."
Lara shook her head.
"I'm done hiding. If Daniel wants to kill me, let him try."
"Lara—"
"I'm not going to spend the rest of my life running. I've done enough of that."
---
Declan stayed with Lara until nightfall.
They sat on the porch, watching the stars, talking about the past. About Elias. About the basement. About the people they'd lost.
"He was kind, once," Lara said. "Elias. Before the research consumed him. Before he became the monster."
"When did he change?"
"When he realized he couldn't save everyone. When he started to believe that some people weren't worth saving."
"That's not a reason to become a monster."
"No. But it's an explanation."
Declan looked at her.
"Are you afraid?"
"Terrified. But I'm not going to let fear control me. Not anymore."
"Good. Because I'm not going to let Daniel hurt you."
"You can't protect everyone, Declan."
"I can try."
---
Declan's phone buzzed.
Another text. Same unknown number.
Lara is safe. For now. But she's not my target.
Then who is?
You'll find out soon enough.
Declan showed the text to Lara.
"He's playing with us," she said.
"He's always been playing with us. Since the beginning."
"What does he want?"
"I don't know. Revenge? Justice? Something else?"
"Maybe he wants what Elias wanted. To break you. To prove that he can."
"Then he's going to be disappointed."
---
Declan left Lara's house at midnight.
He drove home, watching his mirrors, his hand on the baseball bat in the passenger seat.
No one followed him.
But the feeling of being watched didn't fade.
Claire was waiting on the porch.
"He texted you again?"
"He said Lara wasn't his target."
"Then who is?"
"I don't know. But I'm going to find out."
---
The next morning, Declan received another letter.
Plain white envelope. His name written in black ink.
He opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Valentina. Walking out of her apartment building. Smiling. Unaware.
And on the back, in Daniel's handwriting:
She's next.
Declan called Valentina.
"Where are you?"
"At home. Why?"
"Get out. Now. Daniel is coming for you."
"What? How do you—"
"No time. Just go. Go to Reyes. Go to the FBI. Go somewhere safe."
Valentina didn't argue.
"I'm leaving now."
"Stay on the phone with me."
Declan heard her footsteps, the jingle of keys, the slam of a door.
"I'm in the car. I'm driving."
"Where are you going?"
"The field office. Reyes is expecting me."
"Good. Don't stop. Don't look back."
---
Declan drove to Valentina's apartment.
The building was quiet. The street was empty.
He walked to her door.
It was open.
He pushed it inside.
The apartment had been ransacked. Drawers pulled out. Furniture overturned. Photographs torn from the walls.
But there was no blood.
No sign of violence.
Valentina had gotten out in time.
But Daniel had been there.
He'd been close.
Too close.
---
Declan's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
"You're faster than I expected," Daniel said.
"Where are you?"
"Gone. But I'll be back."
"Valentina isn't your target. You're just trying to scare me."
"You're right. She's not my target. Neither is Lara. Neither is Claire."
"Then who?"
"You, Declan. You've always been my target."
Declan's blood ran cold.
"Then why didn't you kill me when you had the chance?"
"Because I don't want to kill you. I want to break you. Just like Elias wanted. Just like I've been trained to do."
"You're not going to break me."
"We'll see."
The line went dead.
---
Declan sat in Valentina's destroyed apartment, the phone in his hand, Daniel's words echoing in his head.
You've always been my target.
He thought about the past. About the missing time. About the photographs. About the threats.
It had never been about Elias.
It had always been about Daniel.
The cousin in the shadows.
The one even Elias feared.
Declan stood up.
He had a new mission now.
Not to find Daniel.
To survive him.
- Writer
