Chapter 2 The Tightrope Walker

James' penthouse's lavish dining room set the scene for the Harding family meal. Crystal lights lit the mahogany table, which included exquisite cuisine the guests hardly touched. The environment was tense even if everything seemed normal. James held out his wine glass, eyes shining. "To family and the fate of our wonderful city." Sarah and Alex, who clinked their glasses, reflected the emotion.

Alex watched Sarah's eyes while they drank. Something fleeting: uncertainty? Before fading under her blue eyes of mistrust? "So, Sarah," James said, setting down his fork. "Alex tells me you're almost at a Ghost case success. Would you kindly forward any information to your forthcoming father-in- law? Sarah stopped and peered at Alex. "Well, it's all somewhat covert, but we managed to reach one of the Ghost's lesser-level activities.

We want it to push ourselves up the command ladder." Around his knife, Alex's hand grew just perceptibly tight. "Wow, honey, that is really great. You'll find this person in a second." James nodded kindly. "Wonderful, Sarah. If we have committed police like you on the force, my anti-drug efforts will really have a chance to clean this city. Alex's mind flew when the talk turned toward campaign tactics and wedding preparations. He had to fast alert his people. But how can he explain his actions without drawing attention?

Destiny stood in for his phone humming. Alex grinned and quickly looked at the screen. "sorry; I have to accept this. Crisis at the job. He stood and kissed Sarah on the cheek before walking out onto the balcony. When Alex was by himself, he changed. The loved son and committed fiancé had left. Low and frightening, the Ghost stood in his place. "Which of 'hide out's' parts was unclear?" From the other end, the voice shook. "Boss, we tried but the feds raided our east side warehouse, so we couldn't." They brought Mikey and a few others.

Alex's thoughts hummed, weighing promise against tragedies. "begin the Zeta Protocol." I want everyone off the grid inside the hour. See if Mikey talks as well. Alex ended the talk, inhaled fully, and shook off the Phantom's mantle. Grinning, he went back to sit with his family. "Everything alright, young one?" James asked. Alex said, "Just a hiccup with our Tokyo branch," lying naturally. "I have nothing I can handle." Early the next morning Alex arrived to Harding Industries.

Genuinely working as COO, he spent the first hour carefully reading reports and answering calls. As it happened, he fled to a secret area behind his office as the workplace begged to life around him. Here, among scattered PCs and burner phones, Alex became the Phantom. He looked over data from his network as he assessed the damage from the operation. Though he would have to fix the releases quickly, it could have been more unfortunate. His office door banged on shocked him back to reality.

Alex returned to his work area rather quickly after finding the secret door. His coworker entered. "Mr. Harding, your dad's mission supervisor is hovering about for your 10 AM." Alex nodded and then changed gears once again. "Refund him." Alex moved between his several parts with ease, this cycle continuing all day. By late night, he had averted an emergency in his medicine field, guided his dad's most recent mission elevation, and shockingly figured out how to send Sarah roses "for no obvious reason." Still, the strain was building. Alex's phone rang as he left the office, Elena's message urgent. "We own a mole. Meeting this evening at shared spot.

Sarah slumped over her desk across town, surrounded by case files. Knowing the raid had turned up important information, she could sense the Ghost's neck becoming slackened. "Hardsiness!" Her skipper swung out his arm. "Suddenly, my office." Sarah rushed in, pulse thumping. Had she done anything improper? The captain's austere manner relaxed to a rare smile. "Wow, investigator, on the attack. About the Ghost's inner group, we have firm knowledge. I'm expanding your task team. You possess everything you need.

Excitement drove Sarah back into her study with fresh intensity. She was close enough to taste it. Alex moved approached a run-down metro station, the chosen gathering place for his inward group, as darkness fell. Elena and his top lieutenants met him with sad faces. "Report," Alex said, sliding into his Phantom part. Elena started to show. "The mole is in Jackson's group. We are quite sure it is either Martinez or Reyes." Alex's thoughts flew about. He'd thought both men were solid. "Buy them. Separately. I'll deal with this on my own. Alex's fake phone hummed as his lieutenants scattered to follow orders. Sarah went first. "Once more, sweetheart, working late tonight. Don't wait. Loving you. Culpability confused Alex's inner self as he wrote a compassionate answer. How long could he keep on like this?

James Harding appeared before a rapt crowd at a campaign gathering. Every syllable showed his intensity, and his voice ascended among the speakers. "The plague of drugs has ravaged our great city for a very long time. For the greed of few, families were split apart and lives were lost. As your Representative, I stand before you today committed to not rest until every single street pharmacist is in a penal jail! The group thundered in supporting praise.

The man running James's campaign grinned behind him. "Sir, they really are loving it. Your numbers are soaring. James nodded with a satisfied move. "Very good." We ought to drive this force along. I want to visit each town and area. People need to know I'm not playing around about this war. James had no idea, though, that the same criminal he swore to curb was his direct cousin. Throughout the evening, the three Hardings came into somewhat diverse situations; none of them knew how their paths would cross.

James commended the success of his task with his team and planned their finest lines of action in the war on narcotics. Sarah and her group studied evidence, connecting particles that brought them closer to the Phantom's real nature. Moreover, Alex, dressed as the intimidating Phantom, was ready to show the double crosser in his heart. Alex went to Reyes and Martinez in a dirty room beneath the city. The two men fought their honesty, clearly terrified. "One of you," Alex answered, voice absolutely icy, "has double-crossed me. Anyone who admits all right now could live to see another dawn."

Alarm growing, the two guys traded glances. Alex watched their looks warily, looking for any tell that might find the mole. Suddenly outside there was a noise. Elena came in pale, her face "Boss, there is business right here. Federal authorities, closing in rapid reaction. Alex's ideas flew. How got they to this place? Except unless... Martinez caught his eye looking as though he was reaching for something inside his jacket. Alex quickly pulled his handgun, ready on Martinez. "You have done a serious mistake." Still, the walls trembled with the might of a ramming ram before he could fire. New York Police: Nothing moves!

Alex's planet spun around. He was listening for the voice. Sarah: Time seems to stop at that moment. Alex stayed at the junction of his three lives, each one second from breaking. He could hear Sarah organizing her squad, her voice weighted with the triumph of a much awaited victory. He could see his father happily ignorant, giving another stirring lecture on street cleanliness. At last the Ghost was surrounded and here he was. Alex's hand stayed on his gun.

He had few seconds to decide. Surrender is Struggle? Fly away? Every choice had catastrophic effects. The entry broke off. A beam of flashlights burst into the black. Then Alex decided. Gun lifted as Sarah stormed into the room, her eyes locked with those of the guy she had been chasing years. The man she thought to be more knowledgeable than any other. "Alex?" she said, doubt scuffing across her features. The well built walls of lies fell apart that very moment. Son, fiancé, businessman, criminal-all of Alex's identities combined in a chorus of broken realities. At last the Phantom's curtain dropped, and the consequences would be quite important.