CHAPTER 12 — THE PRICE OF BETRAYAL
Police surrounded Brooks Global headquarters before sunrise.
Employees watched in disbelief as investigators carried boxes of confidential records from the building.
Television helicopters circled overhead.
The headlines were brutal.
BROOKS GLOBAL UNDER CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
Inside a private conference room sat Daniel Harper.
Alone.
Across from him sat the masked leader of the Sovereign Council.
"You've done well," the stranger said.
Daniel stared at the floor.
"You promised no one would get hurt."
The masked figure slid a photograph across the table.
It showed Daniel's wife and young son.
Safe.
But clearly being watched.
"You never worked for us because you were greedy."
"You worked for us because you were afraid."
Tears formed in Daniel's eyes.
"I betrayed Ethan."
"No," the stranger replied.
"You betrayed yourself."
Meanwhile, Amelia refused to believe Daniel was beyond redemption.
"He saved my life more than once," she insisted.
Nathan remained cautious.
"Good people sometimes make terrible choices."
"But terrible choices still have consequences."
That evening, Daniel secretly escaped the Council's safe house.
Bruised and exhausted, he reached Amelia with only seconds to spare.
"They're planning something bigger than Brooks Global."
"They're going after every member of the Lantern Circle."
Before he could say another word...
A sniper's bullet shattered the window.
Daniel pushed Amelia to the floor.
The bullet struck him in the shoulder.
Outside, the shooter vanished into the night.
Daniel whispered through the pain,
"You have to find..."
May you like
"...The Lighthouse."
Then he lost consciousness.
