Chapter 8 - THE MESSAGE
At 2:12 a.m., Ryan’s phone received a video.
Michael sitting alive.
Adrian behind camera.
Message:
STOP LOOKING AT MERCER MUNICIPAL.
Ryan replayed.
Then froze.
Michael blinked three times.
Pause.
Twice.
Academy signal?
Years ago, Ryan and Michael used simple visual cues during undercover training.
Three-two meant:
LOOK LEFT.
Ryan examined frame.
Left wall.
Nothing.
Then zoom.
A faint painted number:
C-17.
Service bay map?
Ryan pulled convention-center utility drawings.
Corridor C.
Chamber 17.
Location:
beneath old produce market.
Police raided.
Empty.
Fresh restraints.
Food.
Water.
But Michael gone.
Adrian anticipated the signal.
Or Michael had been moved before sending.
Then Ryan found a speaker.
Pressed play.
Michael’s voice:
“Ryan, don’t.”
Then Adrian:
“You’re predictable.”
Ryan clenched his fist.
Robert said:
“He wants you angry.”
“I am.”
“Then don’t make that useful.”
Ryan looked at the empty room.
On the table:
one plastic meat container.
Date:
today.
Inside animal meat.
Below it:
Michael’s police badge.
No blood.
No body.
A staged implication.
Ryan understood the purpose.
Adrian wanted police to imagine Michael being killed.
Fear would speed mistakes.
Exactly like Victor Hale’s case.
Ryan closed the container.
“He’s teaching us the wrong story.”
Then he looked at the ventilation duct.
Airflow.
Cold.
This chamber was connected to a larger refrigerated system.
May you like
Old produce market cold storage.
There might be more rooms.
