The face in the file was young—no older than thirty. But there was something ancient behind his eyes, something unreadable.
Name: Unknown.
Codename: Lazarus.
Status: Asset terminated. Presumed deceased.
Affiliation: The Circle – High Clearance Operative
Last confirmed activity: Classified
Isabella stared at the page, heart thudding. "If he's dead, why are they afraid of him?"
Elias leaned forward, his voice low. "Because Lazarus didn't just vanish. He disappeared with something they couldn't afford to lose. A ledger. A kill list. Every name connected to the Circle from the last two decades. Agents. Politicians. Royalty. Mercenaries. The true hierarchy."
Alexander muttered, "And let me guess—he's back."
Elias nodded. "The fire. The symbol. The message you received. That wasn't the Circle. That was Lazarus."
Silence stretched through the room.
"Then he's not just a threat to them," Isabella said slowly. "He's a threat to everyone."
A Signal in the Dark
Later that night, back at their rented inn, Isabella activated her backup comms system. They needed information. If Lazarus was alive, someone, somewhere, would have seen a ghost move.
She dropped a secure query into the black market network.
Query: "Looking for Lazarus. Trade for names."
Response: Ping received.
Location active.* Istanbul. 72-hour window.**
Alexander read the screen. "He's baiting us."
Isabella's gaze sharpened. "And we're taking it."
Elias walked in, arms crossed. "You go after him, there's no turning back. This isn't Mercer. This man doesn't negotiate. He erases."
Alexander smiled grimly. "Good. Neither do we."