Bonus Episode Seven: "The Second Hand"

Chamila Leonne leaned back in her chair, fingers drumming lazily against her desk as she scrolled through digital notes. The only illumination in her office came from the glow of her screens, where news footage looped—a shaky phone recording capturing the Vigilantes and their allies being escorted through House 21.

Different angles, different perspectives, but all showing the same thing: the Vigilantes, no longer just ghosts in the shadows.

She let the feeds run a few more times before reaching for a glass, pouring herself a drink, and dialing a number. The encrypted line buzzed twice before connecting. There was a quiet breath on the other end.

"This is Sylvia," spoke a young woman’s voice.

Chamila smirked.

"Sylvia. I assume you’ve seen the news."

A brief pause.

"Yes, ma’am. Hard to miss."

"Good. Then you understand why I’m calling."

Another slight hesitation. Not out of ignorance—just enough to tell Chamila the girl was still getting used to these kinds of calls.

"You want details on the Vigilantes’ involvement?"

Chamila’s smirk deepened. Smart girl.

"More than that. I need a full sweep—witness statements, public media feeds, anything House 21 hasn’t buried. They were out in public, Sylvia. People saw them. We’re past the shadows now. I want to know who they spoke to, if anyone, and why they were working with these particular officers…"

She glanced at her notes.

"Lieutenants Cody Chase and Angel Clark."

The soft sound of a keyboard clicking. Sylvia was already looking. Good.

"I can pull what’s publicly available," she said, voice steady but a bit more cautious.

"But anything deeper will take time… I may have to ask for some favors from friends."

Chamila swirled the drink in her glass, savoring the control.

"I don’t care how you do it, those details are trivial. You’re resourceful—so I expect results. And, Sylvia?"

The typing stopped.

"If you come back to me empty-handed… I may have to wonder if I put my trust in the wrong person."

Sylvia’s breath hitched, just for a second. Not fear. Chamila knew fear when she heard it. No, this was something else. Calculation. A flicker of doubt, maybe?

"Understood, ma’am. I’ll find what you need."

"Good girl. If you need more tech, send a message through this line. I want this to stay confidential."

Chamila ended the call, setting her glass down with a soft clink.

The game was moving. And when it ended, her employer would know everything.

And then?

The Vigilantes wouldn’t have anywhere left to hide.