The race against time
308 Words
Oliver lowered the phone slowly.
The last words from Adrian echoed in his mind.
"Don't trust—"
But trust whom?
Marcus was already moving.
"I've traced the call. Adrian's phone is still transmitting."
"Where is he?" Oliver asked.
"An abandoned warehouse at the old Riverside Docks."
Oliver turned to Tracy.
"You stay with Grace."
Tracy shook her head firmly.
"No. This started with me, and I'm not hiding anymore."
Oliver wanted to argue, but he saw the determination in her eyes.
"All right," he said. "But you stay close to me."
---
Twenty minutes later, three black SUVs rolled silently into the deserted docks.
Rain hammered the rusted warehouses.
The place was eerily quiet.
Marcus signaled to his team.
"Spread out."
Oliver pushed open the warehouse door.
"Adrian!"
Only the sound of dripping water answered him.
Then...
A weak voice came from upstairs.
"Oliver..."
They raced up the metal staircase.
Adrian was tied to a chair, bruised but alive.
Oliver cut the ropes.
"Who did this?"
Adrian struggled to breathe.
"I tried to expose Phoenix... but they found out."
"Who is Phoenix?"
Adrian looked directly at Tracy.
"They're after her."
Tracy froze.
"Me?"
Adrian nodded.
"The baby she's carrying isn't just an heir... it's the key to a secret your parents took to their graves."
Oliver stared at his brother.
"What are you talking about?"
Before Adrian could answer—
Bang!
A sniper's bullet shattered the warehouse window.
Marcus shouted, "Get down!"
The lights went out.
More gunshots echoed through the darkness.
When the shooting stopped and the emergency lights flickered on, everyone looked around.
Adrian was gone.
Only the chair remained, its ropes cut cleanly.
On the floor lay a single black card with a silver phoenix engraved on it.
On the back, one sentence was written in elegant handwriting:
"The game has only just begun."
- Writer
