Chapter 14 The Warehouse Trap

Chapter 14: The Warehouse Trap

The convoy of black SUVs cut through the deserted industrial district just after midnight. Rain had begun to fall, turning the empty streets into mirrors that reflected the flashing headlights. The abandoned Riverside Warehouse stood at the edge of the river, its rusted steel walls and broken windows making it look like a forgotten relic of another era.

Captain Harris brought his vehicle to a stop outside the entrance.

"We've surrounded the building," he reported. "No movement has been detected."

Ethan stepped out without hesitation, his eyes fixed on the massive warehouse.

"That's exactly what worries me."

Samuel glanced at him. "You think it's another trap?"

"I know it is."

He looked at the officers gathering around the entrance.

"No one goes in until I give the order."

The security team immediately spread out, securing every possible exit. Drones were launched into the air while two trained dogs searched the perimeter. Ten minutes later, the captain returned.

"No heat signatures."

"No signs of recent activity."

"It looks abandoned."

Ethan smiled faintly.

"Then let's find out why they wanted us to come here."

The heavy warehouse doors groaned as they were forced open.

Dust drifted through the beam of the flashlights. Broken machinery, rusted containers, and stacks of wooden crates filled the enormous building. Every footstep echoed through the darkness.

The team advanced slowly.

Samuel examined the floor.

"Fresh tire marks."

"They're less than an hour old."

Ethan nodded.

"They wanted us to arrive before the rain washed them away."

Captain Harris frowned.

"They wanted us to find this place?"

"Exactly."

They moved deeper into the warehouse until a security guard called out.

"Young Master!"

Everyone hurried toward him.

Near the center of the warehouse sat Richard Hale's luxury sedan.

Its driver's door was still open.

The headlights remained on.

Samuel approached carefully.

"No driver."

"No blood."

"No struggle."

Ethan bent down beside the vehicle.

The engine was still warm.

"He didn't abandon this car long ago."

Captain Harris searched the interior.

"His wallet is here."

"So is his phone."

Samuel looked puzzled.

"No kidnapper leaves a phone behind."

Ethan's attention shifted to the dashboard.

A folded piece of paper rested beneath the windshield wiper inside the car.

He unfolded it.

Only four words were written across the page.

You're looking behind you.

Samuel read the message over Ethan's shoulder.

"What does that mean?"

Before Ethan could answer, every light inside the warehouse suddenly went out.

Darkness swallowed the building.

Several guards instinctively reached for their weapons.

"Flashlights!"

Dozens of beams cut through the darkness.

At that exact moment, a loud metallic crash echoed from the far end of the warehouse.

One of the guards shouted.

"Movement!"

Half the team rushed toward the sound.

Ethan didn't move.

Instead, he slowly turned around.

"Stop!"

His voice thundered across the warehouse.

The guards froze.

Samuel looked at him.

"What is it?"

Ethan stared at the empty office suspended above the warehouse floor.

"The note."

"They're looking behind us."

"No."

"They want us to look behind us."

He pointed upward.

"They're above us."

Almost instantly, the office windows exploded.

Masked men dressed in black tactical gear rained down smoke grenades from the second floor.

Thick gray smoke filled the warehouse within seconds.

Visibility disappeared.

Gunfire erupted from somewhere inside the smoke.

"Take cover!" Captain Harris shouted.

The security team quickly formed a protective circle around Ethan.

Samuel pulled him behind a concrete pillar.

"This way!"

The warehouse echoed with shouts, footsteps, and the sound of bullets striking steel.

Ethan remained astonishingly calm.

"They're trying to separate us."

Captain Harris coughed through the smoke.

"There are too many!"

"No."

Ethan listened carefully.

"There are only six."

Samuel looked shocked.

"You counted them?"

"I counted the footsteps."

The smoke slowly began to clear.

Several masked attackers rushed toward the rear exit.

"They're escaping!" one guard yelled.

Ethan immediately realized the truth.

"They don't care about fighting."

"They came for one thing."

He sprinted toward Richard Hale's car.

Samuel followed.

"What are you doing?"

Ethan opened the trunk.

Empty.

Too empty.

Someone had cleaned it completely.

Then he noticed tiny scratches inside the metal lining.

A hidden compartment.

He pressed against the side panel.

With a soft click, it opened.

Inside lay a black briefcase.

Before Ethan could reach it, one of the masked men appeared from the smoke and fired directly at him.

Samuel reacted instantly, pulling Ethan sideways.

The bullet shattered the rear window instead.

Captain Harris tackled the attacker to the ground after a violent struggle.

The remaining masked men disappeared through a hidden tunnel beneath one of the storage platforms.

By the time the guards reached it, they were gone.

Silence gradually returned to the warehouse.

Samuel caught his breath.

"Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine."

Ethan reached into the hidden compartment and removed the briefcase.

It was surprisingly heavy.

A digital fingerprint lock covered the front.

Captain Harris dragged the captured attacker toward them.

"We got one."

The masked man remained silent despite blood running down the side of his face.

Ethan crouched in front of him.

"You risked your life for this briefcase."

No answer.

"You weren't trying to kill me."

Still nothing.

"You were trying to destroy whatever's inside."

For the first time, the prisoner's eyes flickered toward the briefcase.

That single glance confirmed Ethan's suspicion.

Samuel examined the lock.

"It'll take hours to open."

Ethan slowly turned the briefcase over.

A small silver emblem had been engraved beneath the handle.

His expression changed immediately.

"I've seen this before."

Samuel looked closer.

The emblem was shaped like a chess knight.

Ethan reached into his pocket and removed the two chess pieces William had left behind—the king and the queen.

Now there was a third symbol.

The knight.

His grandfather hadn't left random clues.

Each piece pointed toward something hidden.

The king had led him to the secret room.

The queen had revealed the recording.

And now the knight had led him to this briefcase.

Samuel looked at him.

"What do you think is inside?"

Ethan stared at the fingerprint scanner.

"I don't know."

"But whatever it contains..."

"...it's valuable enough for someone to kidnap my grandfather, murder innocent people, and launch an armed attack tonight."

Before anyone could speak again, the captured attacker suddenly laughed.

The sound echoed unnaturally through the silent warehouse.

He slowly raised his head and looked directly into Ethan's eyes.

"You think you've won."

His voice was calm despite the handcuffs.

"You've only reached the second move."

Ethan remained expressionless.

"What does that mean?"

The attacker smiled.

"The Shepherd doesn't lose."

"He sacrifices pieces."

His smile widened.

"And while you're standing here..."

"...someone else is already inside Carter Group Headquarters."

Ethan's eyes sharpened.

If the man was telling the truth, then this entire warehouse attack had been another diversion.

The real target had never been Richard Hale's car.

It was waiting somewhere else.

And Ethan had only minutes to stop it.