Chapter 2 The Trigger

Scene One: The Horrible Truth

The cold wind stung Alex's face as he stood outside the morgue, his mind numb, body rigid with disbelief. The words from Officer Brennan still echoed in his ears, but they felt like they came from a different world, one he no longer understood.

Ethan was dead.

Alex couldn't process it. The shock hit him like a blow to the chest. He had just seen his brother that morning, full of energy, ready to chase down his next big story. And now nothing.

He had heard about the dangers of Ethan's job, of course. He had warned him over and over about the risks. But Alex never thought it would actually happen. He never thought someone would take his brother from him.

The door to the morgue creaked open, and a somber officer appeared. "Mr. Kane, we're ready for you."

Alex nodded, barely able to keep his feet moving as he followed the officer down the sterile, fluorescent-lit hallway. His mind was still racing, trying to understand, trying to make sense of it all. But nothing made sense.

They reached a small room at the end of the hall. The officer opened the door and motioned for Alex to enter. Inside, a covered body lay on a steel table, the white sheet draped over it as if it could shield Alex from the reality of what he was about to see.

Alex's hands trembled as he approached, but he forced himself to stay steady. He had to face this. For Ethan.

He lifted the sheet.

It was him. Ethan's face, pale and bruised, his eyes closed forever. The image was so foreign to Alex that it almost didn't seem real. His brother, the one who always had a smile, who never backed down from anything, now just... gone.

Alex swallowed hard, the tightness in his throat choking him. He reached out a hand, his fingers brushing the side of Ethan's face. "I'm sorry," he whispered, more to himself than anyone else. "I should have done more. I should have stopped you."

The officer stepped forward, his face grim. "We believe your brother was involved in something bigger. A network of arms dealers, possibly. He may have been targeted because of his investigation."

Alex's chest tightened at the officer's words. Arms dealers. Ethan had been right. He had gotten too close, and now, he was paying the price. But Alex wasn't going to let it end like this.

Scene Two: A Decision Made

After a few moments, Alex stepped back from the table, his mind racing. He had always promised himself he wouldn't go back into that world. But that promise felt hollow now. Ethan was gone. And someone had to pay.

"I need to know everything," Alex said, his voice steady but filled with a quiet intensity.

The officer nodded. "We'll give you access to the case files. But be warned, Mr. Kane. This is dangerous. You'll be getting into things you might not be able to handle."

"I don't care," Alex replied, his tone unshakable. "I want names. I want to know who did this."

The officer hesitated but eventually handed Alex a folder with a few key details about Ethan's last investigation. Names, locations, and a brief overview of the syndicate's operations.

As Alex scanned the pages, a sense of resolve began to form inside him. This wasn't just about vengeance anymore. It was about justice. He owed it to Ethan to see this through.

He left the morgue without a second thought, his mind already moving on to the next steps. He needed a plan. And he needed allies.

Scene Three: An Unexpected Visitor

That night, Alex sat in his workshop, the light from his desk lamp casting long shadows across the room. He spread out the files Ethan had been working on locations, names, addresses. A tangled web of corruption and violence, stretching far beyond the city's docks.

The phone rang, breaking his concentration. Alex glanced at the screen. It was an unfamiliar number.

"Alex Kane?" a deep voice asked on the other end.

"Who's this?" Alex replied, his guard instantly up.

"It's Marcus. Marcus Reed."

Alex froze. Marcus had been his best friend in the military, his partner in countless missions. After the war, they had both gone their separate ways. Marcus had gone into private security, and Alex had tried to escape his past by becoming a carpenter.

"What do you want, Marcus?" Alex asked, trying to keep his voice calm.

"I heard about Ethan," Marcus said, his tone serious. "I'm sorry, man. I know you're going to want revenge, but you can't do this alone. I can help. I've got connections. We can take these guys down together."

Alex paused. He had spent years trying to leave his old life behind, but Marcus's voice, filled with familiarity and trust, was tempting. He knew Marcus was right. He couldn't do this alone.

"I'll take the help," Alex finally said, a decision made. "But we do this my way. We take them down, one step at a time."

"Agreed," Marcus replied. "I'll be there tomorrow. We start planning."