That same night, Leon's surveillance teams finally reported back with their first concrete finding.One of the countryside properties connected to the shell companies had received three unregistered vehicles within the span of six hours.The vehicles had arrived at staggered intervals, suggesting deliberate operational security.Armed men had been observed entering and exiting the property.Guards were positioned around the perimeter.It was the most promising lead they'd found.Duane immediately left the Tower with Leon and a convoy of security personnel.They didn't raid the location immediately.That would be too risky, too likely to result in his family being moved or harmed.Instead, they took a calculated approach.Duane parked on a nearby hill overlooking the estate, a vantage point that allowed observation without proximity.Leon set up long-range cameras and monitoring equipment.Duane watched through the cameras as several armed men entered and left the estate throughout the

Early that morning, Mr. Alfred walked out of his shower to find Duane and Leon waiting in his bedroom.Alfred froze, clearly caught off guard by their presence in his private space.He was still dripping wet, a towel wrapped around his waist, completely unprepared for confrontation.Duane's expression was cold and accusatory."Are you a traitor?" he asked directly."What? No. Of course not—""Then explain Blackridge Intellectual Properties."Alfred's face paled.He quickly pulled on clothes, his movements nervous and hurried."Sit down," Duane instructed.Alfred sat on the edge of his bed, looking genuinely frightened."Leon uncovered a network of approximately a hundred companies whose intellectual property rights are owned by Blackridge Intellectual Properties. A company you claim to have no knowledge of.""I don't have knowledge of it because it's not mine," Alfred said urgently. "At least, not in the way you're thinking.""Then explain."Alfred took a deep breath."When I establis

Mr. Alfred and Catherine were shocked to learn that Harrison Cashmere was behind the abduction of Duane's family.The name didn't initially register with either of them, but Leon quickly pulled up records showing Cashmere's past dealings with Duane's company.It was a business dispute from years ago, resolved in Duane's favor, forgotten by Duane but apparently never forgotten by Cashmere.Alfred immediately blamed himself."I should have known which companies in my portfolio were connected to him," Alfred said, his voice heavy with guilt. "I should have paid attention to the licensing agreements more carefully."Duane looked at him directly."Even if you had, you wouldn't have known which one to suspect without a proper investigation. This isn't your fault."But Alfred remained unconvinced.Duane refocused on the immediate problem."I need you to use the records you have on Cashmere's companies. Everything you know about his operations, his holdings, his infrastructure. Use it to loca

Maya and Mrs. Wordsworth were returned to separate rooms after the field encounter.The guards moved them quickly, separating them before either could speak.But the move to the open field had not been random.It was a warning.A demonstration of power.A reminder that escape was impossible and resistance was futile.Yet despite the fear, despite the danger, Maya had been observing everything.During the journey from their previous location to the open field, she'd counted the minutes carefully.Nearly two hours of travel in the back of a vehicle with no windows.She'd also noticed something crucial.At one point during the drive, the vehicle had crossed a long bridge.She'd felt the shift in road surface, heard the subtle change in engine sound that accompanied bridge crossings.The bridge had lasted approximately three minutes, suggesting significant length.That single detail might matter.That information was immediately shared with her mother through notes hidden beneath meal tra

Duane immediately ended the call and stared at the phone number on his screen.Unknown. Untraceable. Deliberately obscured.Gloria called again within seconds.This time he answered immediately."What?"Gloria's voice was barely controlled, terror evident in every word."They know I called you. Black Ledger knows I contacted you. They're coming for me.""Where are you?""Still outside the Tower. I can't come in. If they're tracking me, I can't lead them to you."Duane's mind raced through possibilities.It could be a trap. Gloria could be luring him into another ambush.But her fear sounded genuine."Why did you call me? After everything you've done?""Because I'm done. Because I can't be part of this anymore. Because your family doesn't deserve what's happening to them."Duane didn't trust her.He reminded her of something crucial."Every major problem in my life can somehow be traced back to you. Your family's betrayal. Black Ledger. The vendetta. All of it."Gloria didn't argue the