Ethan hesitated, glancing around at the unfamiliar faces, but the urgency in his eyes remained. “I sleep near the hangars sometimes,” he began, his voice steadier now that someone was listening. “It’s quieter there. Last night, I saw two men go under your plane. They didn’t look like they belonged there. I… I thought I saw them place something metallic near the fuel tank.”

Richard nodded thoughtfully, his mind racing. He’d built his empire on intuition and calculated risks, and something about Ethan’s story rang true. While it was possible the boy was mistaken or even lying, Richard knew he had to trust his instincts.

Minutes felt like hours as they waited for the inspection report. The media had a field day, and news outlets were already broadcasting live, speculating about the potential threat. Richard’s phone buzzed incessantly with calls and messages from concerned associates and curious journalists looking for a scoop.