“We were careful—” Cal started.
“You were adequate.” Adrian cut him off. “Which isn't the same as careful.”
“What are you saying?” I asked. Though I already knew.
“I'm saying this stops being theoretical now.” Adrian leaned back. “Which means I need to know as to how committed are you to finishing this? Because if you're not absolutely certain, this is where you walk away.”
Cal's jaw tightened. “We're certain.”
“Are you? Because from where I'm sitting, you've spent the last twelve hours fighting with each other instead of preparing for the escalation that's coming.”
“We're fine,” I said.
“You're not fine. You're compromised by personal complications and running on rage instead of strategy.” Adrian's expression didn't change. “Which normally I'd overlook because rage can be useful. But not when it makes you sloppy. Not when it puts my operation at risk.”
“Then what do you want from us?” Cal's voice had gone cold. “We got you the intel. We proved Harrow's corruption. What more do you need?”
“I need you to be honest about whether you can actually finish this without getting yourselves killed. Because we've had time to dig deeper into Marcus Webb. And what Dmitri found is worse than we thought.”
“How much worse?” Cal asked. Voice clinical already.
Adrian pulled up a file on his tablet. “The phone data gave us his financials. Complete transaction history for six years.” He scrolled through. “Webb doesn't just handle evidence suppression for Lily's case. He's the keystone. Every sealed file, every disappeared witness statement, every altered autopsy report in Harrow's network goes through him.”
“Where is he right now?” My voice came out flat. Empty.
“That's what we're going to find out.” Cal had his phone out already. Typing rapidly. “Marcus Webb. Crown Court administrator. Give me five minutes for his current pattern.”His fingers flew across the screen. Pulling databases. Accessing systems I probably didn't want to know about. “Got him.”
“Show me.”
He turned his phone. I saw Webb's life laid out in digital clarity. Crown Court offices during business hours. A private members' bar three nights a week. A flat in Kensington that was too expensive for his official salary. A predictable commute route that suddenly looked less like convenience and more like vulnerability.
“He's creature of habit,” Cal said. Voice clinical.
I looked at Adrian. “We need to talk to him.”
“Talk.” Adrian's mouth curved slightly. “Is that what we're calling it?”
“We need information. Webb has access to everything Harrow's network does. If we can get him to cooperate?—”
“He won't cooperate.” Cal interrupted. “Men like Webb don't flip. They're too invested in the system protecting them. Too scared of what happens if they talk.”
“Then we make him more scared of what happens if he doesn't.” I stood. “Where is he now?”
Cal checked his phone. “In his office. But he's scheduled to attend a legal professionals gala tonight. Black tie event. Lots of witnesses. Poor security. He'll be exposed during entry and exit.”
“Perfect.” I looked at Adrian. “We need surveillance. Transport. Backup if this goes wrong.”
“You're not listening.” Adrian's voice was starting to raise. “I said I need to know if you can finish this without getting killed. Not whether you can rush into another half-planned operation.”
“This is planned?—”
“This is reactive. You just found out Webb exists and you're already preparing to confront him in public.” Adrian stood.
“Then what do you suggest?” Cal's voice was ice. “We sit here and build the perfect plan while Webb continues operating?While Harrow closes more loose ends and buries more evidence?”
“I suggest you remember that Harrow isn't stupid. That he'll have anticipated exactly this move and prepared accordingly.” Adrian moved to the window. Looked out at Ravenswood's grounds. “Webb isn't the target. He's bait. And you're so focused on getting answers that you're not seeing the trap.”
“So what do we do?” I asked.
