The photograph of Detective Chen bound and unconscious triggered immediate chaos in the command center. Vincent was already pulling up tracking software while Tony attempted to trace the message's origin. Louis stood frozen, staring at the woman who had risked everything to help them now being used as leverage.
"We cannot abort publication," Rebecca's voice came through the secure line from The Hague. "If we do, they win. Chen would not want us to sacrifice everything we have built to save her."
"Easy to say when you are in protective custody and she is in a basement being tortured," Ral snapped, his composure cracking under the weight of another impossible choice.
A second message arrived with a video attachment. The footage showed Chen fully conscious now, a g*n pressed against her te
