Chapter 15 Final Target #2
"I could say the same."
Victor stopped a few feet away.
"I've been reading your articles."
"They're impressive."
"Thorough."
"Dangerous."
Finn shrugged.
"I've been told that before."
"I believe it."
Victor folded his hands behind his back.
"You know..."
"You remind me of myself when I was younger."
Finn laughed.
"I sincerely hope not."
Victor's smile never faltered.
"We both believe information changes the world."
"The difference..."
He stepped closer.
"...is that I learned information belongs to whoever controls it."
Finn met his gaze calmly.
"I think information belongs to the truth."
Victor sighed.
"Such an idealist."
For several seconds neither man spoke.
Victor finally nodded toward one of the guards.
"The flash drive."
Finn smiled faintly.
"I don't have it."
"I know."
"I also know you decrypted it."
"So let's save ourselves unnecessary complications."
"Tell me where the copies are."
Finn remained silent.
Victor's expression hardened only slightly.
"You've become very important to Mr. Kane."
"So I've noticed."
"I wonder..."
Victor tilted his head thoughtfully.
"...does he know you're willing to die for a story?"
Finn answered without hesitation.
"I'm willing to live for the truth."
Victor smiled again.
"A better answer."
He slowly began walking around the room.
"You journalists always believe exposing corruption changes people."
"It doesn't."
"It simply replaces one powerful man with another."
Finn watched him carefully.
"And that's how you justify everything?"
Victor stopped.
"I don't justify success."
"I achieve it."
The conversation was unfolding almost exactly as Finn had hoped.
When the mercenaries captured him, they had searched him thoroughly.
Or so they believed.
What they hadn't found was the tiny digital recorder hidden inside the reinforced stitching beneath his jacket collar.
Years earlier, after nearly losing evidence during another investigation, Finn had begun carrying miniature backup recorders.
Old habits.
Now they might save countless lives.
His thumb pressed gently against the concealed activation switch.
A faint vibration confirmed it was recording.
Victor noticed nothing.
"You've spent months chasing my company."
He continued.
"Do you know what you actually found?"
Finn looked directly at him.
"Why don't you tell me?"
Victor laughed.
"Trying to interview me?"
"Occupational habit."
"I suppose."
He resumed pacing.
"Titan Shield didn't become successful because governments trusted us."
"They hired us because we delivered results."
"Results require flexibility."
Finn kept his tone conversational.
"What kind of flexibility?"
Victor smiled approvingly.
"That's a proper question."
He stopped beside an old steel support column.
"Politicians become... cooperative."
"Competitors disappear."
"Witnesses reconsider."
"Markets correct themselves."
He spoke about murder and bribery with the detached confidence of someone discussing quarterly profits.
Finn forced himself to remain outwardly calm.
"And the people who refused?"
Victor shrugged.
"They made unfortunate decisions."
"You arranged those decisions."
Victor's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I removed obstacles."
There it was.
An admission.
Finn asked another question.
"The redevelopment projects?"
Victor smiled knowingly.
"Very profitable."
"Entire neighborhoods purchased for a fraction of their value."
"People always underestimate how inexpensive fear can be."
"And Gregory Walsh?"
"A frightened man protecting his family."
Victor dismissed him with a wave.
"He served his purpose."
Finn kept him talking.
"Michael Donovan?"
Victor actually laughed.
"I wondered when you'd find him."
"I should've dealt with him years ago."
Another confession.
Another piece of evidence.
The tiny recorder continued capturing every word.
Victor walked closer until only a few feet separated them.
"Do you know why you're really here?"
Finn remained silent.
"Not because of the evidence."
"I've already accepted those losses."
Victor leaned slightly forward.
"You're here because Elias Kane has one weakness."
"You."
Finn smiled despite himself.
"I don't think you'll enjoy discovering how wrong you are."
Victor raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"You're assuming Eli will stop because you've taken me."
"He won't."
"He'll come."
"And when he does..."
Finn's expression remained remarkably calm.
"...you'll lose."
Victor studied him for several long seconds.
"You really believe that."
"I do."
The older billionaire sighed almost sympathetically.
"Hope is fascinating."
"It survives long after reason disappears."
Finn looked around the warehouse.
"You sound like someone who's never had anyone worth hoping for."
For the first time, genuine irritation crossed Victor's face.
"You know nothing about me."
"I know enough."
"You've built an empire."
"But somehow..."
Finn smiled quietly.
"...you're standing in an abandoned warehouse trying to convince one journalist to surrender."
The silence that followed stretched uncomfortably.
Victor eventually chuckled.
"I almost admire you."
"I don't need your admiration."
"No."
"You need rescuing."
Finn glanced toward the broken warehouse windows.
"I wouldn't be too sure."
Victor frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Instead of answering, Finn looked deliberately toward the collar of his jacket.
Only for a fraction of a second.
It was enough.
Victor followed the movement instinctively.
His expression changed.
"Search him."
Two mercenaries immediately stepped forward.
Finn didn't resist.
One guard grabbed his jacket while another searched every pocket.
Nothing.
Then...
The first guard paused.
His fingers traced the inside of the collar.
He carefully removed the tiny recording device.
Victor stared at it.
For a long moment, no one spoke.
Then his pleasant smile disappeared completely.
"You've been recording me."
Finn met his furious gaze without flinching.
"I've been listening."
Victor crushed the device in his hand.
"It doesn't matter."
"The recording's gone."
Finn smiled.
"Maybe."
The uncertainty was enough.
Victor spun toward his men.
"Find every electronic device."
"Now!"
The warehouse exploded into frantic movement.
Mercenaries scattered in every direction, searching bags, equipment, and surrounding rooms.
In the confusion, nobody noticed the faint red laser dot briefly sweep across one of the upper windows.
Outside...
Unseen among the surrounding factory buildings...
Elias Kane lay behind an observation scope.
His earpiece crackled softly.
Mason's calm voice came through.
"Perimeter secure."
"Lena has disabled their communications."
"Parker's medical team is standing by."
Federal tactical units silently moved into their assigned positions.
Eli never took his eyes off the warehouse.
Through the cracked skylight, he could clearly see Finn still standing.
Alive.
Waiting.
He pressed the transmit button once.
"Execute."
Around the abandoned industrial complex, dark figures emerged soundlessly from the shadows.
Breach teams reached every entrance simultaneously.
Steel tools positioned against reinforced doors.
Explosive charges prepared.
Inside the warehouse, Victor Langford slowly began realizing something was terribly wrong.
Outside...
The rescue had already begun.
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