Chapter 9 - The Hunt Begins
Damian sat in the back of an unmarked rental car parked outside a regional bank in Portland, Maine.
Marco sat in the driver's seat, holding a laptop connected to a private investigator's encrypted satellite link.
"Boss," Marco said softly, turning the screen toward Damian. "We got a ping."
Damian didn't move for three seconds. His heart thudded against his ribs like a sledgehammer. "Where?"
"An anonymous wire transfer of ten thousand dollars was deposited into the account of the Knox County Medical Trust yesterday," Marco explained, tapping the screen. "The tax ID for the donor entity was registered three days ago under a new foundation name: The Leo Montgomery Memorial Fund."
Damian’s breath hitched.
Leo.
Claire had used their son's name. Not his last name, but the maiden name she had abandoned when she married him five years ago.
"The registry address is tied to a small town forty miles north of here," Marco continued. "Harbor Cove."
Damian reached into his coat pocket, his fingers wrapping around the knitted white hat he had carried every single day since the night he found Room 807 empty.
"Is she alone?" Damian asked, his voice trembling slightly.
May you like
"According to our local contact, she lives alone in an apartment above a hardware store on Main Street. She works at a bakery." Marco paused, looking at Damian with deep concern. "Boss... if Directive 904 is still active, and if she sees us..."
"She won't see us," Damian whispered, staring at the map coordinates flashing on the screen. "Not yet. Drive."
