Frozen Flame of Dawn - Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Chapter 11: Unseen Threads_2

Aiden’s grip tightened on the final page, a look Tommy was all too familiar with; something significant had just clicked.

“Well?” Tommy urged. He tried to read his friend’s expression. “What did you find?”

“Yeah, Captain,” Eizze added. Curiosity was plain on her face. “What’s in those files?”

Aiden didn’t answer immediately. He took a slow, steadying breath, then closed the folder with a decisive snap, looking up at Eizze with a determined gaze, “Eizze, do me a favor and lock the door,” he requested.

Eizze’s eyes widened slightly, but she gave a curt nod, clicking the lock into place. She turned back to Aiden, her posture tense, waiting.

“What I’m about to share stays between us,” Aiden said firmly. “Until we know more, this goes no further. Understand?”

Both Tommy and Eizze nodded, their expressions a mix of curiosity and caution.

Leaning back, Aiden began, his words measured.

“This morning, during the op to bring in that newly awakened civilian, I crossed paths with a mercenary group.” He paused, carefully choosing his words, and said, “Among them was a woman. Skilled, fast, and awakened. But it was her name that caught my attention.”

He reached into the file and slid out a photo, glancing at it before setting it on the desk.

“Her codename… ‘Black Phoenix.'” He paused, his gaze fixed on the image. “It matches the captain of the Phoenix Unit.”

Tommy’s eyebrows shot up. “Wait, you’re telling me that mercenary was her?”

Aiden nodded slowly, the weight of the realization settling in.

“It’s her,” he said quietly. “I didn’t realize it at first, but looking at this photo…”

“There’s no doubt, the woman behind that mask is the same one,” he said, tapping the image.

Eizze’s face showed shock, “But, sir… If that’s true, she shouldn’t even be out here as all records say she’s locked up in a Federation detention facility.”

Aiden gritted his jaw, his mind racing to make sense of it all. “If she’s here, free, then something’s off, or we’re missing a big piece of the puzzle,” he said, his voice tight.

“I require you to verify the absence of any other members from her unit.” As he turned to Eizze. “We need to know if she’s acting alone or if her whole team is in play.”

Eizze caught the urgency in his voice and nodded, “On it, sir,” Eizze responded promptly.

She left the office without another word, the door clicking shut behind her.

As the silence returned, Tommy glanced at Aiden, his face serious.

“So… what now?” Tommy inquired in a quiet yet firm voice. “Are you going to report this?”

Aiden shook his head. “Not yet. We need the full picture before we escalate this. Once we know what’s really going on, then we can decide our next move.”

Tommy leaned back, running a hand through his hair. “Alright,” he replied with a sigh.

“She’s one of the best. If she’s from the Phoenix Unit, it’s not a coincidence.” He leaned in closer, and his voice got a little softer. “Do you think she’s working under the radar? Like, she’s got her own agenda?”

Aiden shook his head, not entirely sure what to think.

“Maybe,” he replied slowly. “If that’s indeed the case, it’s not solely about her skill set. It’s about her knowing things. She mentioned things that only someone with inside knowledge would know.”

Tommy watched him closely, a smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth. “Well, whatever it is, she’s definitely causing you trouble.”

Aiden ignored the comment, though his expression betrayed a hint of introspection.

“I just want to understand what she’s after.” He leaned back, a contemplative look crossing his face. “Is she a potential ally or a threat?”

Tommy let out a quiet chuckle. “Good luck with that. She doesn’t seem to be the type to make things easy.”

Aiden’s lips twitched into a small smile as he glanced at his friend, “Somehow, I think you’re right.”

His resolve darkened his gaze. “But for now, this stays between us.”

Both sat in silence, heavy with what they had learned. They both knew that whatever lay ahead, it was likely to change everything.

***

Meanwhile, across the city in the towering Rienfeld building, a very different kind of meeting was in progress. The sleek, glass-walled conference room buzzed with tension. The air was a blend of leather chairs, fresh coffee, and the unspoken weight of high-stakes decisions.

Around the long rectangular table, a group of men sat, their body language telling a story of mounting frustration. Some leaned forward with furrowed brows, others sat stiffly, their jaws clenched as they listened to yet another argument being made.

At the head of the table sat Alaric Rienfeld. He leaned back in his chair, his sharp features catching the soft light from the chandelier above. His piercing gaze moved slowly across the room, his expression unreadable as one of his advisors presented their case.

A sharp knock on the door cut through the discussion, silencing the room. All eyes turned toward the source of the interruption. Alaric’s brow furrowed slightly, his irritation flashing in the way his lips pressed together. After a deliberate pause, he exhaled and waved a hand.

“Come in,” he said, his voice calm but with an edge.

The door opened, and a young secretary entered hurriedly, his footsteps muffled by the thick carpet. He crossed the room quickly, bending down to whisper something in Alaric’s ear.

Alaric’s jaw tightened at the news, but he gave a small, measured nod, raising a hand to stop the secretary from speaking further. Without a word, he motioned the young man to stand by the back wall. Rising from his chair with a fluid motion, he straightened his suit jacket and addressed the room.

“We’ll take a five-minute break,” he announced, his tone clipped but composed.

He left the room right away and went straight to his private office without waiting for anyone to answer. With a quiet click, the door shut behind him, blocking out the background noise of people talking.

He went right to his desk and sat down in the chair with the high back. He let out a sigh of relief, as if the stress of the day was finally taking its toll.

He reached for the round paperweight on the desk and started rolling it in his hand without meaning to. His feet were firmly on the ground as he stared into the distance. The only sound in the room was the soft hum of the air conditioner.

A hesitant knock broke the silence of his brief moment alone. The secretary slipped in, carefully closing the door behind him.

Alaric paused as he carefully placed the paperweight he’d been fiddling with back on his desk and turned his cold, piercing gaze on the young man.

“I believe I made it clear not to disturb me during a meeting,” he said, his voice low but laced with a sharp edge that made the air feel heavier.

The secretary quickly bowed his head. “Apologies, sir. It won’t happen again.”

Alaric studied him for a moment, his expression stern, before leaning back in his chair with a worn sigh. He rubbed his temples, trying to soothe the building pressure in his head.

“Fine,” he said, his voice calmer. “Out with it. What’s that? It couldn’t wait?”

Straightening, the secretary spoke more confidently. “It’s the surveillance reports, sir. There’s been no communication from the research facility or the detention center since yesterday. Every attempt to reach them has failed. And…”

He paused briefly before proceeding. “A few members of the Phoenix Unit, the ones you specifically instructed us to monitor, have disappeared. They’ve taken leaves or found excuses to leave their posts. We can’t track them.”

Alaric’s expression hardened, his eyes narrowing as he processed the information. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. “The Phoenix Unit? Are we referring to a select few individuals or the entire team?

The secretary responded, “We’ve got information on just a few members, but we’re checking the others.”

Alaric sat in silence for a moment, his fingers steepled in front of him. Then he stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. “Get me confirmation. Find out if the others are still in place. And re-establish communication with the detention center immediately. I want a full report on the facility’s status in my inbox by the end of the hour.”

“Yes, sir.” The secretary nodded and turned to leave, but Alaric’s voice stopped him.

“One more thing.” Alaric was at the door now, his hand resting on the handle. He glanced back over his shoulder. “I’ll be busy with my grandfather for the rest of the evening, so unless it’s urgent, don’t disturb us. If something does come up, take it to my father instead. Understood?”

He paused slightly and said, “About the research facility, reach out to my brother. Have him send a escort team to handle it.”

“Understood, sir,” the secretary replied.

Alaric opened the door and walked back into the hallway. He was already making plans for what to do if something went wrong. As he walked toward the meeting room, he could hear the faint sound of voices.

His thoughts of failed surveillance were put away for now. He had a fight to win in the office, but in his mind, the seeds of a much bigger problem were already present.