Page 22 of The Sniper

Reyna stood, her expression hard. “Then we find out. We dig into Titan’s connections, his clients, anyone who might have had a reason to target him.”

“Could be. We’re already running background checks,” Daniels said. “But it’s going to take time.”

“Then we don’t wait,” Reyna said, her tone sharp. “We start with the people closest to him and fan out from there. Someone knows something.”

Daniels studied her, the fire in her eyes a stark contrast to the chill that hung in the air around them. She was relentless, and he knew she wouldn’t stop until they had answers. But that determination came at a cost, and he wasn’t sure she saw the danger that lay ahead.

As much as Daniels hated to admit it, he wasn’t sure if he could protect her from what was coming.

Daniels stood in the cramped office of Assistant Director Carol Mathers, the sharp scent of stale coffee and paper files thick in the air. The blinds were drawn, casting thin slats of light across the mahogany desk that separated them. Mathers sat behind it, her hands steepled under her chin, her eyes boring into him like she was reading every secret he’d ever tried to bury.

“This isn’t a request, Daniels,” she said, her tone clipped and cold. “I’ve got the brass breathing down my neck over this case. Two bodies, two messages, and you’ve tied it to a privatesecurity outfit that isn’t exactly forthcoming with their methods. Now you’re telling me there’s a very real possibility you’ll need to work undercover?”

Daniels kept his stance relaxed, but his mind churned with frustration. He’d dealt with Mathers long enough to know that trying to meet her head-on would get him nowhere. She was a master at cutting down anyone who challenged her authority, and today, he wasn’t in the mood to play her games.

“With all due respect,” he began, his voice even, “this isn’t just a local homicide. Whoever’s behind this is targeting a very specific group within the BDSM community, and they’re doing it for a reason. Cerberus believes they’ve uncovered a lead that could take us directly to them.”

Mathers raised an eyebrow. “And that lead requires you to work outside the Bureau’s parameters?”

“It requires flexibility,” Daniels countered. “The victims were connected through an underground auction. High-stakes, off-the-books, and the kind of operation that doesn’t take kindly to strangers. We need someone who can blend in.”

“And I suppose that someone is you?” Mathers asked, her skepticism cutting.

Daniels didn’t blink. “I have the connections and the knowledge. I’ve been part of this scene long enough to know how to navigate it. If we send in anyone else, they’ll get made before they even step foot inside, and Cerberus will cut us off at the knees. They’ll work with the Bureau, but only with people they know, and they are quite adept at stonewalling.”

Mathers leaned back in her chair, her lips pressing into a thin line. “And what about Reyna Marx? You’re dragging a civilian into this.”

“She’s not a civilian,” Daniels said sharply. “She’s one of Cerberus’ top people. They’ve got their own resources, and she’salready proven invaluable to this investigation. If I’m going undercover, she’s coming with me.”

Mathers’s eyes narrowed. “You’re too close to this, Daniels. You’ve been too close since the start. It’s clouding your judgment.”

Daniels stepped closer to the desk, his voice lowering. “This isn’t about judgment. This is about stopping a killer before they strike again. I’ve got two bodies and a message that says we’re running out of time. If you want results, this is how we get them.”

Mathers stared at him for a long moment, the silence stretching thin between them. Finally, she sighed, the sound heavy with frustration. “Fine,” she said. “But you’d better bring me something concrete, Daniels. No more theories. No more half-measures. I want results, or I’m pulling you off this case.”

“You’ll get them,” Daniels said, his tone firm. He turned and walked out before she could say anything else, his frustration simmering just below the surface.

Back at the Cerberus office, Daniels found Reyna hunched over a laptop, her brow furrowed as she scanned a series of documents on the screen. The room was dim, the glow of the monitor casting a pale light over her features. She didn’t look up when he entered, her focus unshaken.

“What’ve you got?” he asked, his voice cutting through the quiet.

Reyna tapped a few keys before turning the screen toward him. “It’s a list of participants from an auction. Took some digging, but I managed to cross-reference the names with the victims. Both Veda and Titan were listed as attendees at aprivate auction six months ago. High-value items, no public records, completely underground.”

Daniels leaned over the desk, his eyes scanning the names. “What kind of items?”

“Human,” Reyna said flatly. “The kind that don’t get a choice.”

His stomach tightened, the implications sinking in. The underground auction wasn’t just a black-market operation—it was trafficking, plain and simple. And Veda and Titan had been caught up in it.

“Do we have any intel on the next auction?” he asked, his voice steady despite the fire building in his chest.

Reyna nodded, flipping to another document. “There’s one scheduled in two days. Location’s still classified, but I’ve got a lead on how to get us an invite.”

Daniels straightened, his mind already working through the logistics. “We’ll go in undercover. Play the part, gather intel, and figure out who’s behind this.”

Reyna raised an eyebrow. “You think Mathers is going to sign off on that?”

“She already has,” Daniels said. “But she’s watching us closely. We need to make this count.”

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