Chapter 50 Summary

Jennifer woke up early after a night filled with unsettling dreams about Tony being attacked. Her growing concern for his safety and the slow pace of the police investigation left her anxious. Looking for a distraction, she checked her emails and found a message from FBI Special Agent Javon Morris. His update on the Jenkins case explained that Jenkins had been traced to Italy but disappeared after leaving a hotel in Galliano. Reading the message gave her an idea; maybe Javon could help with Tony’s situation.

When Jennifer called Javon, she thanked him for the update before changing the subject to Tony’s situation. She explained that Tony’s friend had been assaulted and that a cryptic message was found at the scene: “The living delivers a warning; the dead will reveal the consequences of a warning ignored.” Javon was stunned; he’d received the same message in an envelope at his FBI office just days earlier. The revelation linked the two incidents, suggesting the threat was not local but part of something bigger, possibly national.

Jennifer encouraged Javon to get involved in the Austin investigation, concerned about Tony’s safety and annoyed that police couldn’t provide 24/7 protection. Javon agreed to discuss the matter with his supervisor and promised to give her updates as soon as he could, assuring her that the FBI would now work with Austin authorities on the case.

Meanwhile, Bravo prepared for his mission. In a St. Louis hotel, he examined a dangerous collection of weapons and gear he had recently acquired: guns, grenades, smoke bombs, knives, and tactical supplies. He carefully sharpened his blades and finalized his plan: use a cell phone as bait to lure Remington, uncover Hernandez’s true identity, and then eliminate the real target behind the operation. Flipping through a local real estate guide, he found an ideal spot for confrontation: a vacant warehouse in Granite City, Illinois, just across the bridge from downtown St. Louis, and set out to inspect it, his anticipation evident in his stride.

Back in Austin, Tony visited Steven at the hospital. To his relief, Steven announced that he had decided to take the apartment Tony had found near the rehabilitation clinic. Tony confessed that he had already leased it for a year, confident that Steven would choose it. The new home would be fully furnished and ready by August 1st, ensuring a smooth transition once Steven was discharged. Sincerely grateful, Steven thanked Tony for his unwavering support, though he admitted feeling guilty about his current condition. Tony brushed it off with humor and reassurance, emphasizing that Steven’s only job was to heal. As they spoke, Steven revealed that, despite progress in therapy, his memories of the attack remained buried—a troubling gap that both men hoped would soon be resolved.