Page 35 of Grayson

“Passport, phone, cash in his pocket. That’s his kingdom.” Gunner pointed at the map.

“And every time he tries to use one, somebody trusted is waiting. No wild cards. No local hero looking for headlines. Only people Hiro and AJ have cleared.”

“Hiro, status on Marseille.”

“Captain Croyeaux has agreed to a port inspection,” Hiro said. “No arrest attempt unless Lacroix presents forged documents or resists. The goal is pressure, not a firefight.” Hunter glanced at Grayson.

“Good. We want him moving.”

The first call came eighteen minutes later. A surveillance image appeared on the central screen: Lacroix leaving a sedan near the Marseille docks, turning away the moment he saw customs officers entering the warehouse. Conor exhaled.

“He took the bait.” Hiro corrected him.

“He recognized the danger. That’s better. Fear makes its own bait.”

“Where did he go?” Brunson demanded. AJ answered before Hiro could.

“Rail camera picked him up buying a ticket under a Belgian identity. Destination Lyon, but he exited at Avignon and boarded a northbound freight shuttle with a bribed driver. The driver has already called local authorities.”

Romeo leaned close to the laptop.

“Tell them not to grab him.”

“Already done,” Hiro said. “A patrol will stop the truck for a safety inspection. They’ll let Lacroix see uniforms, then allow the vehicle to continue after documenting the driver. He’ll assume the driver sold him out.”

“That’s cold,” Iggy murmured with a grin. “I love it.”

“Cold is what keeps Jennifer alive. Lacroix wants her isolated, doubting every ally. We turn the mirror. Every friend he calls becomes a question he can’t answer.”

By dawn, Lacroix had crossed into Belgium in the back of a delivery van. Rowe watched a live traffic feed as two unmarked vehicles appeared behind it.

“Brussels federal police?” he asked. AJ replied responded.

“One federal unit, one financial crimes team. Both know the rules. Keep him moving, seize anything he abandons, and feed us every contact he attempts.”

Sonny’s phone vibrated. He listened, then raised a finger.

“One of Lacroix’s fixers just refused him a safe apartment.” Kai’s eyes narrowed.

“Why?”

“Because the fixer’s attorney received the Interpol notice and a packet showing Lacroix forged evidence against Jennifer. The man thinks Lacroix is radioactive.”

Grayson nodded once.

“There’s the break. We don’t have to prove every accusation today. We prove enough that no one stakes a reputation on his word.”

“And when he attacks Jennifer again, the question becomes why a fugitive with frozen accounts is so desperate to silence her,” said U-Jin. The room jumped, forgetting he was even there. He raised his brows with a tiny grin at the corner of his lips. Hiro came back on the line.

“Update. Lacroix tried two cards in Brussels. Both declined. He called a banker in Luxembourg, but the banker disconnected after AJ’s fraud alert reached compliance.” Moose slapped the table.

“Now he knows.”

“No,” Grayson said. “Now he wonders how much we know.”

Striker traced the likely route east.

“He’ll avoid airports and major stations. Germany next, then Austria. He’ll think old intelligence contacts can hide him.” Gunner shook his head.