Years of training had taught him to spot the "flash in the night"—the momentary lapse in a target’s disguise. For the man known as "The Alchemist," it was a nervous habit of checking a silver pocket watch every eleven minutes. 🌃 The Setup
The "flash in the night" was now a full-scale searchlight from a Secret Service chopper. Elias grabbed the drive, kicked Vane back into the arms of the local authorities, and turned toward the open sea. "Package secured," Elias whispered into his comms.
Elias dives under the table as suppressed gunfire chips the mahogany.
He spots the pocket watch. Vane is moving toward the balcony.
Marcus Vane, a disgraced former intelligence officer. Location: The Salon Privé, Monte Carlo. The Signal: A single strobe flash from the rooftop team. 🎲 The Gamble
He activates his thermal optics, turning the room into a world of glowing heat signatures.