Chapter 14 - Shadow Game
The safehouse in upstate New York was nestled deep within a thick pine forest, reachable only by an unpaved gravel road. Rain drummed relentless rhythm against the roof of the small cabin.
Inside, Agent Ramirez stood by the window, a shotgun held loosely in his hands, watching the tree line. In the back bedroom, baby Leo slept peacefully in a wooden crib, oblivious to the storm raging outside.
Suddenly, the forest fell unnaturally quiet. The crickets stopped chirping.
Ramirez raised his weapon, his breath hitching. A red laser dot danced across his chest. Before he could raise the alarm, a suppressed round shattered the glass window, striking him in the shoulder and sending him crashing to the floor.
Tactical operators in night-vision gear kicked through the front door, sweeping the living room with surgical precision. At the front of the stack was Special Agent Miller, his night-vision goggles tilted up, a cold smirk on his face.
"Secure the package," Miller ordered. "Mrs. Sterling wants the baby alive. It’s her only leverage left."
An operator pushed open the bedroom door, reaching down into the crib—only to find a bundle of rolled towels beneath a heavy wool blanket. Attached to the center of the blanket was a small black box with a blinking red light.
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"Clear!" the operator yelled, panic instantly spiking in his voice. "It's a decoy!"
Through the cabin’s wireless intercom, Sarah’s voice rang out, sharp as broken glass. "Welcome to the woods, Miller."
