Chapter 81

Chapter 81 Summary

Bravo positions himself near the base of the Gateway Arch, carefully choosing a concealed vantage point where he can observe all approaches along the trail. Methodical and patient, he waits for Roger Cortez to arrive, relying on the burner phone as the only safe way to confirm his target’s identity. When Cortez appears and answers the brief phone call, Bravo confirms it is Cortez and lures him into the trees, where the confrontation quickly turns violent. Bravo disarms Cortez, incapacitates him, and restrains him, revealing that Remington is dead and that Cortez has been left without protection.

Under threat, Cortez attempts to buy his life with money, initially transferring millions from one account. When he hesitates about accessing additional funds, Bravo escalates the pressure, uncovering multiple hidden accounts and systematically draining them. Using burner phones, Bravo funnels the stolen money through dark-web handlers and into his Swiss account, amassing more than $12 million in a matter of minutes. After securing Cortez to a tree and ensuring he cannot immediately raise the alarm, Bravo wipes down evidence, packs his belongings, and prepares to leave St. Louis at once, fully aware that time is now his greatest enemy.