Chapter 2: The First Strike
Chapter 2: The First Strike
The breakfast rush ended just after nine.
The last customer folded his newspaper, paid his bill, and nodded toward Evelyn.
“See you tomorrow, Miss Carter.”
“You will,” she replied with a warm smile.
The bell above the diner's door jingled one final time before silence settled over the room.
Only then did Evelyn lock the front door.
The four men in dark suits remained seated at the corner booth, untouched coffee growing cold in front of them.
The tallest among them stood.
“My name is Daniel Mercer.”
He extended his hand.
“Twenty-one years ago, your husband saved my life.”
Evelyn looked at him for a long moment before shaking it.
“I remember you.”
His expression softened.
“I was hoping you would.”
Hannah, still weak from the previous day's beating, stepped slowly into the dining room.
She froze the moment she saw the strangers.
“Mom... who are they?”
Daniel answered before Evelyn could.
“People who owe your family a debt.”
Hannah frowned.
“I don't understand.”
“You're not supposed to,” Evelyn said gently. “Not yet.”
Daniel placed a thick folder on the table.
Inside were photographs.
Bank statements.
Property records.
Corporate filings.
Private surveillance reports.
Every page carried the Holloway family name.
Hannah stared in disbelief.
“How did you get all this?”
Daniel smiled faintly.
“We've been collecting information for years.”
“For years?”
He nodded.
“Grant Holloway isn't nearly as clean as he appears.”
Evelyn slowly turned each page.
Luxury properties hidden through shell companies.
Illegal political donations.
Employee intimidation settlements.
Bribery records.
Offshore accounts.
Margaret Holloway's so-called charitable foundation had quietly transferred millions into family-controlled businesses.
Every page revealed another lie.
“They built an empire,” Daniel said quietly.
“But it stands on rotten wood.”
Across town...
Grant arrived at Holloway Select Markets headquarters.
The glass tower overlooked downtown Chicago.
Employees greeted him nervously.
He enjoyed that.
Power always looked best when people feared losing their jobs.
His assistant hurried toward him.
“Mr. Holloway... there's... there's a problem.”
Grant barely looked up.
“What now?”
“Our largest dairy supplier canceled their contract.”
Grant laughed.
“Find another.”
“They all declined.”
His smile faded.
“What?”
“They won't explain why.”
Grant's jaw tightened.
“Fine. Call Indiana.”
“They already refused.”
“Wisconsin.”
“They refused too.”
Grant stopped walking.
For the first time that morning...
Something felt wrong.
Back at Carter's Table...
Daniel received a text message.
He glanced at the screen.
“First domino.”
Evelyn looked up.
“So soon?”
“The network still remembers Richard Carter.”
Hannah blinked.
“Who was Dad?”
The room fell silent.
Evelyn closed the folder.
“The man you knew as your father was exactly who he wanted to be.”
“But before that...”
She hesitated.
“He spent twelve years investigating organized financial crime for a federal task force.”
Hannah stared.
“My father was federal?”
“Yes.”
“He helped expose men worth billions.”
“And because of that,” Daniel added quietly, “people still honor his name.”
Meanwhile...
Margaret Holloway sat in her favorite salon.
As her stylist prepared to begin, a manager approached nervously.
“Mrs. Holloway... I'm terribly sorry.”
“What is it?”
“We'll have to cancel today's appointment.”
Margaret looked offended.
“Excuse me?”
“The owner requested it personally.”
“I've been a client here for fifteen years.”
“I know.”
“So why?”
The manager swallowed hard.
“We've been advised not to conduct business with your family.”
Margaret's face turned pale.
“Advised... by whom?”
“I honestly don't know.”
At noon...
Grant finally reached his father.
Edward Holloway answered on the third ring.
“I heard.”
“You heard what?”
“Our investors.”
Grant frowned.
“What about them?”
“They've requested an emergency board meeting.”
“So?”
“They're asking questions.”
“About what?”
Edward's voice became unusually serious.
“About your wife.”
Grant blinked.
“Hannah?”
“Yes.”
“Someone anonymously sent photographs.”
Grant's blood ran cold.
“What photographs?”
“The bruises.”
Back inside the diner...
Daniel placed another envelope on the table.
“This arrived twenty minutes ago.”
Evelyn opened it.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
Three words.
WE KNOW.
Nothing else.
No signature.
No return address.
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“They've realized someone is pushing back.”
Evelyn calmly folded the note.
“They're scared.”
“They're dangerous,” Daniel corrected.
“So am I.”
That evening...
A black SUV parked across the street from Carter's Table.
Two men remained inside.
Watching.
Waiting.
One lifted a camera.
Click.
Another photograph.
Click.
The second man lowered his binoculars.
“Boss wants confirmation.”
“The old woman hasn't left.”
“Neither has the daughter.”
The driver started the engine.
“Then tonight...”
He smiled.
“We send them a message.”
Neither man noticed the fifth figure standing silently on the rooftop across the street.
A former Marine sniper watched through a high-powered scope.
He calmly pressed the radio clipped to his jacket.
“Target vehicle confirmed.”
A calm voice answered through the earpiece.
“Maintain surveillance.”
“No engagement unless Mrs. Carter is threatened.”
The sniper smiled.
“They have no idea.”
Far below, the black SUV slowly rolled toward the diner.
Inside, Grant believed he had begun hunting two frightened women.
What he didn't know...
May you like
Was that someone else had already begun hunting him.
End of Chapter 2
