The flight back from Lisbon felt longer than it should have. Sarah hadn’t spoken since takeoff; she stared out the window, the glow of sunrise washing her face pale. Adrian sat beside her, the flash drive in his hand, fingers clenched around it like it might vanish if he let go.When the plane finally landed in Cape Town, Evelyn was already waiting. She didn’t greet them — one look at their faces told her enough.“Vermeer?” she asked softly.Adrian shook his head. “He didn’t make it.”Evelyn closed her eyes for a moment, then nodded. “Then what he gave you had better be worth it.”They drove straight to Greyharbor. The coastal air was thick with salt and rain again — a strange symmetry, as if the sea itself knew that storms never truly passed here. Inside Adrian’s study, Evelyn set up her encrypted laptop, Cole double-checking the network for security breaches.Sarah handed her the flash drive with trembling hands. “It’s all here. Banking data, manifests, emails — everything.”Evelyn

The morning fog lay heavy over Greyharbor, curling around the docks like a living thing. Normally, the scent of salt and fish would have been comforting, but today it carried a sharp edge — tension and uncertainty.Adrian stood on the pier, eyes scanning the harbor. Fishing boats bobbed idly, nets drying in the weak sunlight. Nothing looked out of place, yet his instincts told him otherwise.Sarah approached, her expression tight. “We’ve had reports of strange boats circling offshore last night. Locals saw lights, but by morning, nothing remained.”Cole joined them, holding a tablet. “Satellite feeds confirm it. Private vessels registered to shell companies — all tied back to Locke Industries. They’re mapping the harbor, timing movement, noting every dock and alley.”Adrian’s jaw clenched. “He’s testing us. Probing for weaknesses. Not content with the media campaign, he wants to see our defenses.”Sarah shivered. “And what if they go further?”Adrian’s gaze swept the calm water, calcu

The sun rose over Greyharbor with a reluctant light, casting long shadows across the harbor. Adrian stood on the pier, watching the fishing boats sway gently in the early morning tide. The calm was deceptive — the storm was coming, and this time, it wasn’t just in whispers or shadows.Sarah approached, tablet in hand. “The journalists are ready. All verified, all cross-checked. If we release it now, Harlan won’t be able to spin this.”Adrian nodded slowly. “Then we release it strategically. Make sure the truth hits his investors, his board, and the public simultaneously. Harlan thinks he controls perception. Today, he learns he doesn’t.”Cole, pacing nearby, rubbed his chin. “Once this goes out, there’s no turning back. He’ll come after us, and he won’t be subtle.”Adrian’s gaze hardened. “Good. Subtlety hasn’t protected Greyharbor yet. Let him see that exposing the truth carries consequences he can’t manage.”By mid-morning, emails, encrypted messages, and press packets were sent to

The night was thick with fog, the harbor lights casting eerie reflections on the black water. Adrian stood at the edge of the docks, arms crossed, eyes scanning the silhouettes of the boats anchored offshore. Every wave seemed to whisper of the danger lurking just beyond the horizon.Cole joined him, tablet in hand, showing live surveillance feeds. “They’re circling again. Two boats, loaded with the same type of specialists who tampered with the crane.”Adrian didn’t flinch. “Good. That means they’re predictable. We can use it.”Sarah arrived, breathless but alert. “The town’s ready, but they’re nervous. People saw the crane sabotage. They’re wondering if it’s going to happen again tonight.”Adrian nodded. “Then they need to see that fear isn’t power. Power is knowing when to act, and when to wait.”Inside the radio station, a plan began to take shape. Adrian spread maps and surveillance screenshots across the table.“Here’s the setup,” he said. “We let them approach the docks in thei

The first signs came just before dawn.Fishermen noticed fuel spills in the harbor, small fires burning along the edges of docks. Electrical surges caused streetlights to flicker and fail, plunging Greyharbor into a disorienting semi-darkness. The quiet town, accustomed to early mornings and the lapping of the waves, now faced chaos at its heart.Adrian was already awake, monitoring the perimeter from the radio station. “It’s happening,” he muttered.Sarah and Cole joined him, tension thick in the air. Sarah’s tablet showed the first alerts — alarms triggered at the docks, unauthorized vessels maneuvering offshore, and infrastructure failures rippling through the town.“They’re escalating faster than we anticipated,” Sarah said, voice tight.Adrian clenched his fists. “This is Harlan’s response to the public exposure. He’s proving he can strike directly. But striking is different from winning. Tonight, we show him Greyharbor cannot be broken.”Adrian moved swiftly, coordinating the to