Page 34 of Grayson

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Grayson stood at the end of the scarred conference table while the others crowded into the secure room, the glow of the wall monitors cutting hard lines across their faces.

“It’s good that we have friends all over the world. A transmitter has been planted in Lacroix’s body. He thought he was bitten by something but once we had his location, one of the drones shot him with a locator at the back of his neck. We don’t have to chase him any longer.”

“We keep treating Lacroix like prey,” he said. “Every time we close in, he slips the net, burns another contact, and turns Jennifer into the story, seeking sympathy and help. That ends tonight.”

Moose folded his arms.

“You saying we stop hunting him?” The disbelief in his voice drew Striker forward, but Grayson held up a hand.

“I’m saying we stop chasing him. There’s a difference. We make him run because he’s afraid to stand still.”

“Fear needs teeth,” Gunner said. “Not rumors. Not warnings. Consequences.”

Hunter tapped the map display, where red markers showed Lacroix’s last confirmed movements.

“Then we give every border station, financial crimes unit, and trusted task force a reason to look twice at him.”

Conor leaned toward the speakerphone.

“Hiro, give me Interpol reach without the bureaucratic varnish.” Static clicked once. Hiro answered, calm and immediate.

“We have trusted liaisons in France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Croatia, and Greece. AJ is vetting secondary contacts now.”

“Not enough,” U-Jin said. “Lacroix expects official pressure. He knows how to hide inside procedure.” Brunson nodded.

“So we don’t announce a manhunt. We let each country believe he has already compromised the next one. Nobody protects a liability.”

Romeo paced behind the chairs.

“He’s attacking Jennifer’s credibility because hers is the only voice he can’t buy. He’ll leak forged records, edited audio, anything that makes her look unstable or dishonest.” Iggy looked up from his tablet.

“Then every lie he releases becomes evidence of coordination. We archive it, timestamp it, and trace who repeats it first.”

Jethro planted both palms on the table.

“And when one of his mouthpieces calls us?”

“We don’t threaten,” Kai replied. “We give them verified facts and let them understand how close they are to becoming accessories. Lacroix loses power when people become embarrassed to be seen beside him.”

Rowe studied the transit routes.

“He’ll start in Marseille. He has a warehouse contact near the port.” Sonny shook his head.

“Had one. If Interpol leans on customs and the local police make a visible inspection, that contact folds before Lacroix reaches the door.”

Grayson tapped the tracker for comms again.

“AJ, can you freeze the shell companies without tipping him?” AJ’s reply came over the room speakers.

“The legal packets are ready but it’ll be faster if we don’t use the legal route. We can make it happen much faster. Three banks will act within twenty minutes, two more within the hour. Cash cards, brokerage access, crypto off-ramps, and corporate credit lines all go dark together.”

“Do it in waves,” Striker said. “If everything shuts at once, he knows we found the whole network.” AJ answered.

“Negative. If we stagger it, he can move assets between closures. A simultaneous lock leaves him with whatever is on his person.” Grayson looked around the table.

“AJ’s right. We don’t give him a warning; we give him a wall.” Moose grinned without humor.