The Impala raced along the waterfront, its sirens blaring—Miller had lent them an FBI radio, and Sophia had turned on the emergency signals. Claire sat in the passenger seat, her dad's notebook open to a page marked "Chen's Boat Routes." She traced a line with her finger.
"He's heading for the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge," she said. "There's a small cove under it—my dad wrote that Chen uses it to meet smugglers."
Marcus nodded, gripping the steering wheel. His head still throbbed from Chen's hit, but he didn't care. He had to get back to the boat.
Sophia leaned forward from the backseat. "Miller's team is en route to the cove. They'll cut him off. We just need to keep up."
Raymond sighed, rubbing his temples. "Chen's not stupid. He'll have a backup plan. Maybe another boat, or a way to dump the coke."
Marcus's phone buzzed. A text from the anonymous number: "Cove has a hidden exit—tunnel to the highway. Stop him before he gets there."
He showed it to Claire. "They're still helping us. Who are they?"
Claire shook her head. "I don't know. But my dad's notes mention a 'Mr. X'—a informant who owed him a favor. Maybe it's him."
They reached the cove 10 minutes later. The water was dark, the bridge's lights casting long shadows. Chen's speedboat was tied to a dock, its engine still warm.
"He's inside," Sophia said, pointing to a metal door in the cove's wall. "Tunnel."
Marcus pulled out his pocket knife. "Claire, you stay here. Call Miller. Raymond, Sophia—with me."
Claire grabbed his arm. "No. I'm coming. My dad's notes say the tunnel has booby traps—tripwires. I can spot them."
Marcus hesitated, then nodded. "Stay close."
They slipped through the door. The tunnel was dark, the air thick with dust. Claire shone her flashlight, pointing to a thin wire on the floor. "Tripwire. My dad taught me to look for them—shine the light at an angle."
They stepped over it, moving quietly. At the tunnel's end, they heard Chen's voice.
"…get the car ready. The coke's in the trunk. We'll meet Vlad in the Bronx."
Marcus signaled for them to stop. He peeked around the corner—Chen was standing by a black SUV, Marcus tied to a chair beside it.
"Chen!" Marcus yelled.
Chen spun around, his gun raised. "You're persistent. I'll give you that."
Marcus stepped forward, his hands raised. "Let him go. The FBI's here. You can't escape."
Chen laughed, his foot tapping—bluffing. "Liar. Your little friends aren't here yet."
Claire stepped out from behind Marcus, her dad's notebook in hand. "They are. Look."
She held up her phone. A live feed from Miller's body cam—FBI agents were surrounding the tunnel's exit.
Chen's foot stopped tapping. He cursed, grabbing Marcus by the collar. "You want him? Come get him."
Raymond lunged, tackling Chen to the ground. The gun slid across the floor, and Sophia grabbed it. Marcus cut Marcus's ropes with his knife.
"Are you okay?" Marcus asked, helping him up.
Marcus nodded, rubbing his wrists. "I'm fine. He didn't hurt me. Just wanted leverage."
Chen struggled against Raymond, his face red. "You'll regret this. My men will find you. In New York, in Los Angeles—everywhere."
The tunnel's exit burst open. Miller and his agents ran in, their guns drawn. "Freeze!"
Chen was cuffed, kicking and yelling. As he was led away, he looked at Marcus. "This isn't over. My partner will finish what I started."
Marcus's blood ran cold. Partner. The one from the anonymous email.
Miller walked over, clapping Marcus on the shoulder. "Good work. The coke's in the SUV. We got him."
Claire smiled, hugging Marcus. "We did it. For my dad."
Marcus hugged her back, smelling the salt in her hair. "For him."
As they walked out of the tunnel, the anonymous figure stood by the Impala. It pulled off its baseball cap—an older man, with a scar on his cheek.
"Agent White's friend," he said. "Owed him a favor. Glad I could help."
Claire's eyes widened. "You're Mr. X. My dad's notes mentioned you."
The man nodded. "Call me Jake. I'll be in touch. Chen's partner—he's dangerous. Watch your back."
He walked away, disappearing into the night.
Marcus looked at Claire. Her face was determined.
Chen was gone. But his partner was still out there.
The game wasn't over.
But for now, they were safe.
And together.