The emergency corridor was a blur of red lights and echoing alarms. Jake, Emma, and Mercer sprinted through the smoke‑filled passage, their footsteps pounding against the concrete floor. Behind them, gunfire rattled through the shattered meeting room.

Emma’s voice cracked. “Jake — who is it? Who’s the mole?”

Jake didn’t answer.

Not yet.

He pushed open a fire door, ushering Mercer through. They emerged into a dim maintenance tunnel beneath Thames House, pipes hissing overhead, the air thick with dust and heat.

Emma grabbed Jake’s arm. “Jake. Look at me.”

He stopped.

For a moment, the world narrowed to the two of them — Emma’s eyes wide with fear and fury, Jake’s jaw clenched so tightly it looked painful.

“Tell me,” she said. “Who is it?”

Jake exhaled slowly, the truth burning in his chest.

“It’s someone with access to everything,” he said. “Someone who can override protocols. Someone who can erase logs, redirect teams, and manipulate intel.”

Mercer nodded. “Someone who knew where I’d run. Someone who knew where you’d take me.”

Emma swallowed. “Someone who knew the safehouse location.”

Jake’s voice dropped to a whisper.

“Someone who knew we were meeting Collins.”

Emma’s breath hitched. “Jake… who?”

Jake finally said it.

“Harris.”

Emma froze.

Mercer blinked. “Deputy Chief Harris?”

Jake nodded. “He’s the only one who fits. He’s been in every briefing. He signed off on Captura. He had access to the asset list. He was the one who told Shaw Mercer was selling intel.”

Emma shook her head. “No. Harris? He trained half the Directorate. He’s been with MI5 for twenty years.”

Jake’s voice hardened. “Exactly. He’s untouchable. Invisible. Trusted.”

Mercer whispered, “Perfect cover.”

Emma pressed a hand to her forehead. “Jake… if Harris is the mole, then—”

“He’s been watching us since day one,” Jake said. “Every move. Every call. Every safehouse.”

Mercer stepped closer. “Then he knows where the real drive is.”

Jake nodded. “And he’ll kill anyone who gets near it.”

A metallic clang echoed down the tunnel.

Emma spun, weapon raised. “Movement!”

Jake pulled Mercer behind a support pillar. “Stay low.”

Footsteps approached — slow, deliberate, echoing off the metal walls.

Emma whispered, “Is it them?”

Jake shook his head. “No. Too light. Too controlled.”

A shadow appeared at the far end of the tunnel.

Then a voice.

Calm. Familiar.

“Jake. Emma. Stand down.”

Emma’s eyes widened. “No…”

Jake’s stomach dropped.

Harris stepped into the light.

Immaculate suit. Calm expression. Hands clasped behind his back.

Exactly like Shaw had been.

But Harris wasn’t here to talk.

He was here to finish what the Inner Line started.

Jake raised his weapon. “Don’t move.”

Harris smiled faintly. “Jake, please. You’re better than this.”

Emma stepped beside Jake, gun steady. “You’re the mole.”

Harris tilted his head. “That’s a strong accusation.”

Mercer stepped out from behind the pillar. “You tried to kill me.”

Harris didn’t even look at him. “You stole something that didn’t belong to you.”

Jake’s voice was ice. “You killed Collins.”

Harris shrugged. “Collateral.”

Emma’s voice cracked. “She trusted you.”

Harris finally looked at her. “Everyone trusts me. That’s why this works.”

Jake tightened his grip. “Why, Harris? Why betray your own people?”

Harris stepped closer, unafraid of the guns pointed at him.

“Because MI5 is dying,” he said. “Drowning in bureaucracy. Paralysed by oversight. The Inner Line is the future — a streamlined intelligence network with no politics, no hesitation, no weakness.”

Mercer spat, “You’re selling assets to foreign buyers.”

Harris smiled. “Information is currency. And I am very wealthy.”

Jake’s finger hovered over the trigger. “This ends now.”

Harris raised a hand. “Before you shoot me, Jake… you should know something.”

Jake didn’t lower the gun. “Say it.”

Harris’ smile widened.

“You’re too late.”

Emma’s breath caught. “What does that mean?”

Harris stepped back into the shadows.

“The drive is already gone.”

Jake’s heart stopped.

Mercer whispered, “No… no, no, no—”

Harris’ voice echoed down the tunnel.

“And the person who took it… is someone you’d never suspect.”

Jake lunged forward, but Harris was already gone — swallowed by the maze of tunnels beneath Thames House.

Emma grabbed Jake’s arm. “Jake — stop! It’s a trap!”

Jake slammed his fist against the wall, fury shaking through him.

Mercer sank to the floor, hands in his hair. “If he has the drive… everything is lost.”

Jake turned, eyes burning.

“No. Not everything.”

Emma stepped closer. “Jake… what are you thinking?”

Jake looked at both of them.

“We find the person Harris is talking about.”

Emma frowned. “The one we’d never suspect?”

Jake nodded.

“And when we do…”

His voice dropped to a whisper.

“…we end this.”