"What plan?" Rick asked, studying Catherine's face for any sign of deception.
"Tonight's 'feast,' the Burton brothers will invite government officials." Catherine said. "If we can infiltrate..."
"You mean, we sneak into the enemy's lair?" Rick asked.
"Yes." Catherine nodded. "I can get you in, but... you'll have to pose as my male companion."
Rick looked at Catherine, those green eyes like unfathomable lake water. He didn't know whether to trust this woman who had suddenly appeared, but instinct told him she was telling the truth.
"Fine, I agree," Rick said. "But if you dare deceive me..."
"I won't," Catherine interrupted. "Because I also have a score to settle."
"What score?"
"The Burton brothers killed my fiancé." Catherine's voice suddenly turned ice-cold. "He was also an ATF agent, died in a mission two years ago."
Rick felt a strange resonance. They were both avengers, both seeking light in the darkness.
"Then let's prepare now," Rick stood up. "Eight hours left."
"Wait." Scott suddenly said. "I received some information you might find interesting."
"What information?"
"The forensic report came in." Scott picked up a file. "Ballistics analysis of the four victims shows the murder weapons weren't the guns found at the scenes."
"You mean..."
"The guns at the scenes were fake. The real murder weapons were used by someone else." Scott said. "And according to ballistics analysis, all four guns were military weapons."
Rick's heart chilled. Military weapons meant what? Either someone inside the military was involved, or someone had stolen weapons from an armory.
"There's one more thing." Scott continued. "I checked the victims' backgrounds and found they all participated in a secret operation codenamed 'Thunderbird.'"
"'Thunderbird'?" Rick frowned. "What operation?"
"The files are classified, but I found out this operation was related to Prohibition enforcement." Scott lowered his voice. "And the operation's target was the Burton brothers' smuggling organization."
Everything connected. A terrible thought flashed through Rick's mind: the Burton brothers were seeking revenge, wanting to kill all ATF agents who had participated in Operation Thunderbird.
Suddenly, the office phone rang. Scott answered it, his face immediately turning pale.
"What is it?" Rick asked.
"The director has been kidnapped." Scott hung up. "This morning, he disappeared on his way to work."
"The Burton brothers?"
"Very likely." Scott nodded. "And the kidnappers left a note."
"What did it say?"
"'If you want to save him, 9 PM tonight, Club 21, only one person can come.'"
Rick felt a chill. This was a trap. The Burton brothers wanted to lure him into their web.
"I'll go," Rick said without hesitation.
"No!" Scott and Catherine protested simultaneously.
"It's the only way," Rick said firmly. "Besides, I was planning to settle the score with them anyway."
8 PM, Club 21
Washington's most luxurious club was particularly lively tonight, with government officials, wealthy businessmen, and social elites all gathered here. But Rick knew this was also a death trap.
"Remember," Catherine took Rick's arm, "we're a couple in love."
"Understood." Rick nodded, feeling Catherine's body warmth and tension.
They entered the club, immediately struck by the luxurious décor. Crystal chandeliers, marble floors, leather sofas—everything seemed perfect. But Rick's attention was entirely focused on the guards in the shadows.
"That's Big Burton," Catherine whispered, pointing to a burly man.
Rick looked over. The man was chatting and laughing with a group of government officials, but his eyes were as cold as a viper's.
"Where's Little Burton?" Rick asked.
"In the upstairs private room," Catherine replied. "He's watching the explosives."
They slowly walked toward the stairs, each step filled with danger. Rick felt his heart racing, but also a long-missed excitement.
Suddenly, a guard blocked their path.
"Sir, upstairs is a private area," the guard said.
"We're Mr. Big Burton's guests," Catherine said calmly. "He invited us up to talk."
The guard looked at them suspiciously, his hand already reaching for his holstered gun.
Rick knew the crucial moment had arrived. He had to eliminate this guard without alerting others.
"Wait," Rick suddenly said. "I just remembered, we forgot to bring our invitation."
The guard relaxed his vigilance. In that instant, Rick struck like lightning, a precise chop hitting the guard's neck. The guard collapsed softly, and Rick quickly dragged him to the stairwell.
"Well done," Catherine praised.
They continued upstairs, each step careful. The corridor was quiet, with only distant music and conversation.
"It's here," Catherine pointed to a door.
Rick drew his pistol, taking a deep breath. Fifteen years of waiting, all for this moment.
He kicked the door open and charged in—
The private room was empty.
"A trap?" Rick's heart sank.
"No," Catherine suddenly said, "I deceived you."
Rick spun around to see Catherine pointing a gun at him, her expression strange and cold.
"You... you're one of them?" Rick asked in disbelief.
"I am Catherine Burton," the woman revealed her true identity. "Big Burton's daughter, Little Burton's sister."
Rick felt the world spinning. He had been completely deceived.
"My fiancé was an ATF agent," Catherine continued, "but my family didn't kill him. He was killed by you."
"What?"
"Operation Thunderbird, remember?" Catherine's eyes blazed with hatred. "My fiancé was a double agent. To protect our smuggling business, he fed us information. But you discovered his identity, so..."
"So you're seeking revenge," Rick understood. "Killing all ATF agents who participated in Operation Thunderbird."
"Smart." Catherine nodded. "And you, Rick Forsyth, were Operation Thunderbird's leader."
Rick's heart turned to ice. He finally understood—this wasn't coincidence, but carefully planned revenge.
"Your father also died because of Operation Thunderbird," Catherine continued. "He discovered our secret, so he had to die."
"You..." Rick's anger reached its peak.
"Now, it's your turn." Catherine pulled the trigger.
Bang!
Gunfire erupted, but it wasn't Rick who fell—it was Catherine.
"Scott?" Rick saw his partner appear in the doorway, still holding a smoking gun.
"I followed you here," Scott said. "Good thing I arrived in time."
But as Rick looked at his partner's face, he saw something that made his blood run cold. Scott's expression wasn't relief—it was regret.
"Scott..." Rick began, but his partner was already raising his gun again.
"Sorry, Rick," Scott said quietly. "But this is where your story ends."
Rick realized with horror that his most trusted partner was about to become his executioner. The betrayal cut deeper than any bullet ever could.
The game was far from over—it was just beginning.