Chapter 31
The old shipping yard was a desolate expanse of rusted containers and crumbling concrete,
located on the edge of the city's forgotten harbor.
Fog rolled in from the dark water,
blanketing the ground in a thick,
milky shroud that obscured everything beyond a few feet.
Harrison and Marcus moved through the maze of metal containers like shadows,
their movements completely silent.
They wore dark tactical gear,
their weapons held in low-ready positions,
their senses heightened to the absolute limit.
Harrison stopped at the corner of a massive blue container,
holding up a hand to signal Marcus to halt.
Ahead,
the bright glare of floodlights cut through the fog,
illuminating the entrance of a large,
abandoned warehouse.
Several luxury cars were parked outside,
surrounded by heavily armed guards smoking cigarettes and chatting casually.
"At least six guards outside,"
Marcus whispered into his comm-piece,
his voice transmitting clearly to Harrison's earpiece.
"And likely triple that number inside,"
Harrison responded,
his eyes analyzing the layout of the building.
"Elena,
do you have the security feed?"
Back at the estate,
Elena sat in front of her computer monitors,
having hacked into the yard's old surveillance system.
"I am in,"
Elena confirmed through the radio,
her fingers flying across the keyboard.
"I count fifteen thermal signatures inside the main office area,
plus Vance himself."
"Any sign of heavy weaponry?"
Harrison asked,
checking the magazine of his sidearm.
"Standard automatic rifles,"
Elena replied,
"but watch out for the catwalks above,
there are two snipers positioned near the roof."
"Copy that,"
Harrison said,
looking at Marcus and gesturing toward the side entrance.
"We take out the snipers first,
silently,
then we move on Vance."
They separated,
Marcus heading toward the fire escape on the western wall,
while Harrison climbed a rusted ladder on the east side.
The metal rungs cold beneath his gloves,
Harrison climbed steadily,
ignoring the height and the bitter wind from the harbor.
He reached the roof level,
slipping through a broken window pane onto the narrow metal catwalk inside the warehouse.
Below him,
the warehouse was vast and cavernous,
filled with crates and the echoing voices of criminals.
A few yards away,
a sniper was leaning against the railing,
his rifle aimed toward the main entrance,
oblivious to the danger behind him.
Harrison crept forward,
his boots making no sound on the steel grating,
until he was right behind the man.
In one swift motion,
Harrison looped his arm around the sniper's neck,
cutting off his air while securing his weapon to prevent it from dropping.
The man struggled briefly,
but Harrison's grip was like iron,
and within seconds,
the sniper went limp.
Harrison lowered him gently to the floor,
taking his radio and earpiece to monitor their communications.
Across the warehouse,
he saw a flash of movement on the opposite catwalk,
followed by a soft thud as Marcus neutralized the second sniper.
"Catwalks are clear,"
Marcus reported over the secure channel.
"Good,"
Harrison replied,
looking down at the main floor where Vance sat at a large table,
surrounded by his captains.
May you like
"Now,
let us disrupt the meeting."
