Simon held Ethan’s gaze for a moment without answering.The question was simple, but Ethan's expression suggested that he was no longer satisfied with the assumptions he had made about Simon.“You are alive,” Simon finally replied. “That is what matters.”“That is not what I asked.”“I heard your question.”“Then answer it.”Simon glanced towards the injured arm Ethan was struggling to support.“You need medical attention,” he said. “We can discuss everything else afterwards.”Ethan wanted to insist, but something about Simon's calm response made him hesitate. The man had just defeated eight armed attackers, yet he seemed more concerned about Ethan's injuries than the extraordinary confrontation that had taken place.Ethan slowly released Simon's wrist.He could not understand why Simon continued to avoid the question. More importantly, he could no longer ignore what had happened during the fight.He had witnessed Simon abandon several opportunities to completely defeat the assassins

“Then Mr Gallagher will be treated as the victim and primary witness,” Pierce announced. He turned towards his officers and pointed towards the scattered weapons. “Secure every pistol, knife and electric baton. Separate the attackers before questioning them.”The officers moved immediately.Some of them collected the weapons while others examined the vehicles. Two medical workers entered the road and approached Ethan, but he refused to sit until the assassins had been restrained.Pierce walked towards the leader. The man lifted his face but did not speak.“You recognised Major Ashbourne and still authorised his murder,” Pierce said. “Whatever protection you were promised will not remove that charge.”The leader looked past the commissioner towards Simon.Simon had warned him that Damien would abandon everyone involved if the operation failed. Now armed officers surrounded the road, and the leader could not determine how many of them might secretly serve the Sinclair family.Confessing

Damien’s name did not appear anywhere on the assassin’s phone, but the money had left a trail of its own.Less than an hour after the attack, the device arrived at the digital forensic unit inside Betford Central Police Command. It remained inside the protected evidence bag until an officer recorded its identification number, photographed its condition and confirmed everyone who had handled it.Simon and Ethan waited with Commissioner Pierce inside an adjoining investigation room. A medical worker had cleaned the cut beside Ethan’s ear and placed his injured shoulder inside a support. He had been advised to visit the hospital, but he refused to leave before learning what the phone contained.The technical officer entered several minutes later and placed a tablet on the table. “We created a secure copy of the device before examining anything,” he explained. “The original phone will remain sealed unless a court authorises further access.”Pierce looked towards the tablet. “Were you able

Pierce met his eyes without reacting. “I know that he was the intended victim of an organised assassination.”“That is not what I meant.” Ethan said.“Then ask a question connected to the investigation.”The answer protected Simon without openly defending him. Ethan noticed the careful choice of words. Pierce had not denied knowing Simon’s identity; he had simply refused to discuss it.Ethan turned back towards Simon. “The emergency signal is not the only thing you are hiding.”Simon remained beside the table. “You should return to the hospital and have your shoulder examined.”“Those assassins used restricted military signals,” Ethan continued. “You understood every formation their leader ordered before his men completed it.”“The signals were outdated.”“They were still restricted,” Ethan replied. “Ordinary civilians would not recognise them, and most serving soldiers would only understand part of the sequence.”Simon’s expression did not change. “Then your military needs better ins

Morning light had begun spreading across the Ashbourne estate when Ethan returned. The quiet grounds gave no sign of the violence he had survived during the night.He had spent the remaining hours of the night at the Betford Central Police Command, giving his statement and waiting while the recovered phone was examined. A medical worker had cleaned the cut near his ear and secured his injured shoulder inside a support, but dust and small pieces of glass still covered his clothes.The Ashbourne household was only beginning to wake. Ethan entered through a side door because he did not want Clara or Eleanor to see his injuries before he had spoken to his father.Victor was already awake. He usually began his mornings inside his private study, reviewing military reports before breakfast. Ethan knocked once before entering and closing the door behind him.General Victor Ashbourne looked up from the documents spread across his desk. The moment he noticed Ethan’s injured shoulder and bloodst