Chapter 5 - The Hidden Enemy Inside The Organization
Marco Moretti had always believed loyalty was something earned through time.
Years.
Decades.
Shared battles.
Shared victories.
Shared secrets.
He believed the people who stood beside him when everything was difficult were the people who would never turn against him.
That belief had protected him.
But now, standing in the quiet private room of the airport security office, Marco began to question it.
Because the person who tried to kill him was not a stranger.
It was someone who knew him.
Someone who knew his habits.
Someone who knew exactly where he would be.
The screen in front of him showed the details of his travel schedule.
The flight.
The time.
The route.
Every piece of information was accurate.
Too accurate.
Marco stood silently while Adrian Bell reviewed the records.
"The schedule was changed three days ago," Adrian said.
Marco looked at him.
"Changed by who?"
Adrian tapped the screen.
"Only five people had permission."
"Names."
Adrian brought up the list.
"Me."
Marco said nothing.
"Your personal assistant, Daniel Cross."
A pause.
"The flight coordinator, Victor Hale."
"The maintenance supervisor, Thomas Reed."
"And your security analyst, Vincent Russo."
Marco stared at the names.
Five people.
Five possibilities.
One traitor.
The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
Marco had spent years surrounded by people who feared him.
But fear was not loyalty.
That was a lesson many powerful people learned too late.
People stayed close because of money.
Because of protection.
Because of opportunity.
But when the right temptation appeared, some people revealed who they truly were.
Marco looked at Adrian.
"Check everyone's movements for the last month."
Adrian nodded.
"Already doing it."
"And?"
"We found something unusual."
Marco waited.
"Vincent Russo accessed the aircraft information twice outside normal working hours."
Marco's expression hardened.
"Vincent?"
Adrian nodded.
Marco leaned back slightly.
Vincent Russo had worked for him for seven years.
He was not someone who appeared important.
That was exactly why Marco trusted him.
Vincent was quiet.
Professional.
Reliable.
He handled information.
Schedules.
Security reports.
The type of work that required trust.
The type of work that could destroy someone if used incorrectly.
"Bring him in," Marco said.
Adrian hesitated.
"Now?"
Marco looked at him.
"Do you think waiting makes him less guilty?"
"No."
"Then bring him."
Adrian left.
Marco remained alone for a moment.
Through the glass wall, he could see Ethan sitting with his mother.
The boy was drawing something in his notebook.
Normal.
Simple.
A child returning to being a child.
Marco watched him.
A strange feeling appeared.
Responsibility.
He had spent years protecting himself.
Now he found himself thinking about protecting someone else.
Someone who had nothing to do with his world.
Someone who had simply heard a conversation and decided another human being deserved a chance.
Marco walked toward the waiting area.
Ethan looked up.
"Did you find who did it?"
Marco stopped.
"Not yet."
Ethan frowned.
"Is that bad?"
Marco considered his answer.
"It means we need to be careful."
Ethan looked down at his notebook.
"I thought you would already know."
Marco almost smiled.
"You think I know everything?"
The boy shrugged.
"You look like someone who knows everything."
That made Marco pause.
Because years ago, he probably believed that too.
The idea that power meant certainty.
That being feared meant being untouchable.
But today proved something different.
The most important warning of his life came from a child sitting near an airport window.
Not from his security team.
Not from his intelligence network.
Not from anyone powerful.
From Ethan.
"You know something?" Marco said.
"What?"
"The most dangerous mistake a person can make is believing they cannot be surprised."
Ethan thought about that.
"My grandfather said something similar."
Marco looked interested.
"What did he say?"
"He said smart people listen because they know they can always learn something new."
Marco nodded slowly.
Your grandfather was right.
Again.
Before Ethan could answer, Adrian returned.
But this time, he was not alone.
A man followed behind him.
Vincent Russo.
Late 30s.
Average height.
Perfectly dressed.
The kind of person most people would never notice.
Which made him dangerous.
Vincent looked nervous.
Not afraid.
Nervous.
Marco noticed immediately.
"Mr. Moretti."
Vincent forced a polite expression.
"I heard there was a problem."
Marco looked at him.
"There was."
A pause.
"Someone tried to kill me."
Vincent's face changed slightly.
Only for a second.
But Marco saw it.
"You seem surprised."
"I am."
"Why?"
"Because I would never expect something like that."
Marco walked slowly around him.
"Interesting."
Vincent looked confused.
"What?"
"You said something very specific."
Vincent waited.
"You said you would never expect something like that."
Marco stopped.
"Most people would ask if I was okay."
Silence.
Vincent realized the mistake.
Small.
Almost invisible.
But enough.
Marco noticed everything.
"What were you expecting, Vincent?"
"I don't understand."
"You knew about the flight?"
"No."
"You accessed the aircraft records."
"I was reviewing security information."
"At midnight?"
Vincent became defensive.
"I work late sometimes."
Marco watched him.
The explanation was possible.
That was the problem.
A good lie was always built around a piece of truth.
"Did you know the aircraft had a problem?"
"No."
Too fast.
Marco noticed.
Adrian noticed too.
The room became colder.
Marco stepped closer.
"Vincent."
The man's breathing changed.
"Tell me something."
Marco's voice remained calm.
"Who did you tell about my travel plans?"
Vincent looked away.
That movement answered before words could.
Marco's eyes narrowed.
"Who?"
"I didn't tell anyone."
"Wrong answer."
Vincent looked back.
"What?"
"If you were innocent, you would say nobody."
A pause.
"But you said you didn't tell anyone."
Marco's voice became quieter.
"That means someone asked."
Vincent said nothing.
And silence was confirmation.
Adrian stepped forward.
"Who contacted you?"
Vincent looked between them.
Fear appeared.
Real fear.
Not fear of Marco.
Fear of someone else.
Marco noticed.
That changed everything.
Because Vincent was not acting like a mastermind.
He was acting like someone trapped.
"Who threatened you?" Marco asked.
Vincent's eyes moved.
A small reaction.
But enough.
Marco knew.
"There was someone else."
Vincent swallowed.
"I didn't know they wanted you dead."
The room went silent.
Adrian's expression changed.
Marco remained still.
"What did you think they wanted?"
Vincent looked down.
"Information."
"What information?"
"Your schedule."
"Why?"
Vincent closed his eyes.
"I don't know."
Marco stepped closer.
"You know more than you are saying."
Vincent looked exhausted.
"They said they only wanted to scare you."
Marco stared at him.
"Who?"
Vincent hesitated.
Then whispered:
"I don't know his real name."
A pause.
"But everyone called him..."
The man looked terrified.
"...The Ghost."
For the first time that day, Marco's expression changed completely.
Not anger.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
Because The Ghost was not a name people used casually.
It was a name that existed only in rumors.
A person who erased problems without leaving evidence.
A person who never appeared.
A person who had spent years hiding in the shadows.
Marco looked toward the airport window.
The plane still waited outside.
The failed assassination suddenly felt bigger.
Much bigger.
This was not just someone inside his organization betraying him.
Someone had been moving against him from the shadows.
Someone patient.
Someone careful.
Someone who had finally made a mistake.
Because they underestimated one person.
A little boy named Ethan Carter.
Marco turned back toward Ethan.
The boy was still drawing.
Still innocent.
Still unaware that his words had exposed a threat powerful people had been searching for years.
Marco knew one thing now.
The attack on the plane was only the beginning.
And whoever The Ghost was...
May you like
they had just made the biggest mistake of their life.
They had been heard.
