Night fell quickly. Ethan, Liam, and Asher emerged from their bunker, piled into their car, and sped toward the hotel where the summit had taken place.
They parked nearby and stepped out into the crisp air. Asher carried a heavy briefcase, his eyes scanning the devastation. He stopped, taking in the charred wreckage, and broke the silence. "Liam. Ethan."
Both men turned to him.
"Weren't there tanks and armored military vehicles stationed here?" Asher asked.
Ethan nodded, the memory of the heavy security presence flashing through his mind. "Yeah, dozens of them."
Asher nodded slowly, studying the scorched earth. "Looks like air strikes. Someone rained hellfire on these vehicles from above."
"Aren't military vehicles built to withstand that kind of damage?" Ethan asked, frowning.
"They can take a beating," Asher replied, "but everything has a limit."
Liam looked around the desolate ruin and whispered, "Who has enough firepower to obliterate an entire military convoy like this?"
"The Shadow Syndicate," Asher said grimly. "They were operating in this sector just yesterday."
Liam rubbed his chin, staring at a piece of twisted metal. "Something doesn't add up."
"What do you mean?" Ethan asked.
"Why attack this specific event?" Liam questioned. "What's the endgame?"
Asher thought for a moment. "Dignitaries from dozens of countries were attending. An attack this massive on US soil... I think they're trying to destroy US's reputation on the global stage."
"That might be it," Liam agreed, shaking off the thought. "Anyway, Asher, focus on the briefcase. Ethan and I will scout the perimeter."
"Roger that," Asher said.
Liam gave Ethan a sharp look. Ethan nodded back. "On it."
Elsewhere...
In a sleek, high-rise office, a massive executive desk faced a floor-to-ceiling window. A man sat in a leather chair, his back turned to the room, staring out at the sprawling city lights.
"Night in California is unmatched," the man murmured.
A sharp knock echoed through the room.
"Come in," he called out.
The door clicked open, and a subordinate stepped inside. "Sir, a few military investigators are actively tossing the scene."
The man in the chair sat up slightly. "What?"
He paused, then relaxed back into the leather. "Let them be."
The subordinate blinked, visibly shocked. "But sir, what if they find something?"
A dark, mocking chuckle escaped the man's lips. "There is absolutely no way they can find anything."
Meanwhile, Back at the Scene...
An hour passed. Ethan, Liam, and Asher had searched every inch of the tarmac, but they were coming up empty. There wasn't a single solid piece of evidence to jumpstart the investigation.
"I've got nothing," Ethan said, wiping sweat from his forehead.
Liam sighed. "Same here." He turned his gaze to Asher.
Asher shook his head disappointedly. "I'm sorry, but there's not even a trace of the casualties left. They were blown to dust."
"What's our next move?" Liam muttered, frustrated.
Ethan didn't answer immediately. He looked up as the full moon finally broke through a thick blanket of clouds, casting a bright, silver glow over the wreckage.
"Ethan, Asher, let's run it back," Liam suggested, refusing to give up. "Let's check everything once more from the very beginning."
They all agreed and split up for a second sweep.
As Ethan searched, the bright moon hung directly behind him. Suddenly, a glint of light caught the corner of his eye from a nearby tree. He blinked, tracking the reflection to a branch. Walking closer, he spotted a tiny, sleek device nestled against a leaf. His eyes widened.
"Liam! Asher! Over here!" Ethan called out.
The two men hurried over.
"Is that... a spy camera?" Liam asked, leaning in.
Ethan nodded.
"How on earth did you spot that?" Liam asked, carefully plucking the tiny device from the leaf.
"I think this camera was places after the attack, I think that's the reason why they are in shape."
"The clouds cleared, the moon hit it perfectly, and I caught the reflection," Ethan explained.
"Nice," Liam said, turning the camera over in his hand. "The lens caught the moonlight. Well done, Ethan."
"But if this is a live spy camera..." Ethan started, his voice dropping.
"...then they're watching us right now," Asher finished, his expression hardening.
Instead of panicking, a confident smile spread across Liam's face. "
We have our clue. Now I just have to trace the signal back to its source. You guys know I'm the best at this tech stuff."
He gestured toward the vehicle. "I'll set up the trace in the car. Ethan, Asher—search the rest of the perimeter for any other cameras."
Back at the Office...
On a massive wall monitor, the man in the leather chair watched the live feed from the tree camera. He witnessed the exact moment Ethan found it, and listened to Liam's plan to trace the signal.
"Wow. They actually caught me," the man chuckled to himself. He didn't look worried at all. "But still... you're too late."
A wide, sinister grin spread across his face. "I would love to see them try and find me."
He pressed an intercom button on his desk. "Bring me some popcorn and a drink," he ordered smoothly. "Things are about to get very interesting."