Chapter 8 - The Hunt for the Ghost
Within an hour, the hospital room was transformed into a command hub for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and state prosecutors.
Dr. Vance had flushed my system, confirming that because the IV line had snapped when I fell, only a trace amount of the drug had entered my body—not enough to cause permanent damage to me or the baby. My heart rhythm had stabilized, and the fetal monitor showed a strong, resilient heartbeat.
Marcus sat in a chair beside my bed, holding my hand tightly in both of his. His thumb stroked the back of my knuckles continuously, as if he needed the physical connection to convince himself that we were still alive.
An FBI Special Agent named Vance stood near the end of the bed, reviewing the video file on his tablet.
"The audio transcript matches the digital phone records we just pulled from Isabella's device," Agent Vance explained. "The call originated from a satellite connection registered to an offshore corporation in the Cayman Islands. We've already alerted international law enforcement in Sint Maarten."
"Is he still there?" Marcus asked, his voice low and raspy.
"According to local authorities, a man fitting David’s description booked a private charter flight departing from Princess Juliana International Airport forty minutes ago," Agent Vance replied grimly. "He knows Isabella was caught. He’s running."
Marcus squeezed my hand a little tighter. "Where is he going?"
"We're tracking the flight plan. It's heading toward private airspace in Central America," Vance said. "But he made a mistake, Mr. Hale. By placing that call to a domestic phone in a hospital, he committed federal wire fraud and conspiracy to commit murder on US soil. There is no corner of the world where he can hide now."
May you like
Marcus looked up at the agent, his expression cold and resolved. "I don't care how much it costs. I don't care how many resources it takes. Use my company's security assets, hire every private intelligence firm on the continent. Bring my brother back in chains."
"We will," Agent Vance promised. "Focus on your family, Mr. Hale. We'll handle the ghost."
