Outside, the researcher hurried to the restroom, a tight plan in his mind: tuck the artifact under his shirt and slip past unnoticed. Wrapped as it was, recognition wasn’t likely.He made it just in time. The artifact tucked safely under his shirt, he stepped out into the hall, scanning for the inevitable.The timing was razor-thin—security men were already rushing past him.“I saw him enter this area,” one barked at the others.The researcher pushed his pace, careful to blend in until the moment he had to run.“This is him!” one of the bastards shouted.“Fuck,” the researcher cursed under his breath, breaking into a sprint. Then, disaster—he tripped, falling face-first onto the marble floor. Blood blossomed across the polished surface.Weak hands instinctively clutched the artifact to his chest.One security man descended on him, yanking the artifact free and dragging it away. The same man raised his boot, ready to crush the researcher where he lay.Then—weightless. The force hit. Li

Blake spread the pictures on the table in front of his reporter friend. “I’m sorry, Blake, but I don’t cover news like this anymore.” Blake pulled a cigarette from the pack. “How fast can you get this on the news?” he asked, ignoring the refusal like it didn’t exist. “Blake… I’m not into this anymore. I only cover authentic news.” Blake lit the cigarette slowly, deliberately, as if nothing else in the room mattered. “Blake…” “Ten million dollars. Depending on how fast it can make it to the news.” The reporter gulped. Ten million… more than two years of his salary. He glanced at the pictures again. Disturbing. Enraging. Potentially explosive if released. Could even earn him a promotion if positioned well. “All you need to do is remind everyone of the rape that happened three years ago and that the man is out of prison, living as if nothing happened. You could even add that the victim is still recovering,” Blake continued. The reporter swallowed hard. Ten million… “If you can