The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

In the bustling heart of the city, the revered Vanguard Agency, spearheaded by the esteemed Martinez family, initiated a thorough housecleaning operation.

Vintage cases, some yellowed with the patina of age, were dusted off and brought into the unforgiving light of scrutiny.

The notorious GTO, Vanguard’s arch-nemesis, had a laundry list of files that demanded an exhaustive purge.

Vance was dispatched to the sprawling metropolis of Sea City for advanced training while Micah, armed with Rivenwood’s finest, dived into the backlog of cases.

From the headquarters, a specialized task force was deployed to sift through Rivenwood’s archives, each folder a Pandora’s box of secrets.

This was not the first rodeo for the seasoned agents of Vanguard; they viewed the entire affair with a sense of déjà vu.

The newly minted Captain Thomas found himself adrift without the Director, shadowing the Deputy Director as a trusty sidekick to the temporary helmsman.

As the task force combed through the cases, they hit a roadblock with a recent explosion case, their expressions clouding with intrigue.

“Captain Thomas, are you absolutely certain these were the only people at the scene?” came the probing question.

Thomas nodded firmly. “I’m positive. Aside from our agents, only Percival and Vivienne were present. No one else.”

“And what about this woman?” The task force brandished a grainy photograph where an extra figure was unmistakably present at the crime scene.

“I haven’t the foggiest,” Thomas retorted with the stubbornness of a mule.

Such defiance only served to irk the task force, leading to the detainment of Thomas and the two squad leaders for further inquiry. This sent ripples of unease throughout the rank and file of Vanguard Agency.

Micah, now a lone commander, faced a conundrum with the Martinez family’s latest bomb detection technology gathering dust, unfiled. With no recourse, he reached out to headquarters.

Rivenwood and Sea City were caught in the whirlwind of this operation, and before long, the detectors found their way to Noah’s domain.

“Master, I’m in a bind here,” Micah pleaded over the phone, “Vance is still being grilled by the brass, and if these detectors aren’t dispatched pronto, we’ll be in a whole new world of hurt.”

Noah’s chuckle was warm. “You two are still at it after all these years. Worry not, I’ll make sure Rivenwood gets its gear.”

“Cheers. Next time I’m in Sea City, drinks are on me.”

and Micah’s

I hope we can still

surreptitiously amended the count from three

in Sea City

Vance returned from Sea City, his phone ringing the moment he

dusting off an old human trafficking case,” Noah’s voice came through

grin, “Indeed, Master. I wanted to show the rookies how we uncovered GTO’s trail and share some of your legendary

need for flattery. What’s

Found a photo, too. Hard to believe it’s still around after

pause hung in the

you and the twelve kids. I’m thinking of tracking them

the photo?” Noah’s tone

he thought

tightened his grip on the phone as he kept his voice calm. “With me,

ease. “Odd, I thought that photo was lost in the archive

you were taking the photo, he was astonished by your heroic aura and took one, too. Frankly, I’m quite surprised your wife’s in there too. Should

send it over.” Noah hung up

forwarded the photo with a message attached: [I’ve got people reaching

stared at the screen, the past staring

to think fast. If details emerged, if those children, now adults, remembered anything,

late to kill all ten of them. It was way too suspicious to

took out a phone he had barely ever

on a secure

all out. “I need to go

“You should’ve killed them all long

is onto something. I’m not of much use in Vanguard Agency now

of silence, then, F-Poison said, “Fine. We’ll

up the phone, a glint of lethal intent flashed

seemed like a painting. Clenching her fists tightly,

only one number saved. She dialed

“Hey, it’s me.”

the day Vance hosted the so-called “Reunion,” no one could get in touch with the distant hero and mentor, Noah.Books