Curtis, feeling the pressure, could only wait. When it came to decrypting digital info, he had to admit Ms. Mirabe was way ahead of him.


    "I''ll wait for your update," he texted back quickly.


    After hitting send, Curtis slipped his phone into his pocket and turned his attention back to hisptop. A stubborn file on the screen had him stumped despite all his efforts.


    Wyatt finished his call and looked over. "Any luck with Ms. Mirabe?"


    "Not yet," Curtis said, fingers tapping away. "She''ll be free in twenty minutes."


    Wyatt sighed, rubbing his temples. "Alright, use that time to give it another shot." Curtis''s fingers hesitated for a second.


    Wyatt leaned against the arm of the sofa, watching Curtis''s screen like a hawk.


    Curtis couldn''t take it anymore. "Can you please get out of my face?" he snapped through gritted teeth.


    Wyatt shot him a look. "What, can''t handle a little pressure?"


    Curtis took a deep breath, reminding himself not to lose his cool.


    Just then, James walked in, still in his camo gear, his presencemanding the


    room.


    Wyatt stood up straight when James approached, quickly greeting him, "James." Curtis stood too, nodding respectfully with hisptop in hand.


    "Who''s in charge of the shipment for the States?" James asked as he took off his hat.


    Wyatt and Curtis exchanged a nce. Curtis stepped forward, "That would be my fault, sir."


    James''s eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing. "Didn''t I say no European orders?"


    Curtis


    was calm, but


    Kotter. "I messed up. I dis


    the tricking."


    Wyatt, feeling the tension, hurried to Curtis''s defense. "It''s not entirely Curtis''s fault. The EU yed us by using a third-party. We did check; it seemed legit from the States."


    Curtis cut Wyatt off with a swift kick to the shin, signaling him to stop talking.


    James settled into the sofa, his icy stare unwavering. "So you got duped by a big name and lost your judgment?"


    Wyatt''s face turned crimson. "I..."


    "It''s my fault," Curtis said firmly, bowing his head.


    James pressed his temples, silence


    hanging heavy in the air. The room


    was eerily quiet until he finally l


    SP Where''s the equipment "


    "Seized by the authorities before it could leave," Curtis replied quickly.


    James squinted, his voice steady. "Who''s handling it on their end?"


    Curtis couldn''t help but give a bitter smile. "Andrew."


    Andrew and Sam, both big shots in central security-one a deputy minister, the other a minister.


    James frowned. "How did it end up with him?"


    Wyatt jumped in, "We didn''t expect Andrew to be the one to seize it, and he did it under the guise of illegality."