Chapter 9: The Exchange
David stepped out onto the porch, his hands raised, the micro-SD card pinched between his fingers. The cold night air bit through his flannel shirt.
Two men in tactical gear stood on either side of the SUV, assault rifles raised. A third man, wearing an immaculate bespoke suit that looked absurd in the deep woods, stood by the rear door.
"Very sensible, David," the man in the suit said. He opened the rear door and pulled Mary out. She was bound at the wrists, a fresh bruise blooming across her cheek. Her eyes met David’s, filled with a horrific, desperate sadness.
"Put it on the railing," the man instructed.
David placed the tiny black chip on the wooden railing. "Let her go."
"Walk to him, Mary," the man said softly, giving her a gentle push.
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Mary stumbled forward, her eyes locked on David. She took one step. Then two.
"David, no!" she suddenly screamed, her voice tearing through the quiet night. "It’s a trap! They’re going to—"
