ISAAC MORANO

**26**

Chapter Twenty Six- Locked and Eliminated.

 As they moved toward the final leg of their mission, the team rode in silence, each member focused on their role. The tension was palpable, but Catherine, sitting next to Isaac, was already one step ahead. She pulled out her sleek black tablet, the screen glowing to life as her fingers danced across it.

Isaac glanced over at her, curiosity in his eyes. "What's the plan now?"

Without looking up, Catherine explained, "I've managed to gain access to the vehicle systems of the cars they're using." Her voice was calm, but there was a dangerous edge to it. "Not only can I track their every move, but I can shut down their cars entirely—lock them inside for up to thirty minutes."

Isaac's eyebrows raised in surprise. "You can lock them inside? How exactly?"

Catherine's eyes glinted with a sense of satisfaction as she tapped a few more buttons on the tablet, displaying a live feed of their targets' vehicles. "These new models are all connected to a central system, controlled through network software. With the access we've got now, I can trigger an emergency lockdown mode. The system will think it's a threat, sealing them in while disabling the engine. They'll be trapped."

Isaac stared at her, impressed. "That's... ingenious. How long can you keep them locked in?"

"Thirty minutes, maybe a bit longer if I loop the system's response. It's more than enough time for us to complete what we need to do while they're sitting helpless."

Tony, overhearing the conversation from the front, glanced back with a grin. "And here I thought you were all about finesse. You've got some real dirty tricks up your sleeve."

Catherine smirked, her eyes never leaving the tablet. "Whatever gets the job done. This isn't about playing fair, it's about winning."

Marco, who had been quietly listening, nodded his head in agreement. "If we can shut them down and lock them inside, that gives us control of the situation. They won't know what hit them."

Catherine zoomed in on the live feed, monitoring the vehicle movements as they approached their target location. "I'll activate the shutdown as soon as we're in position. Once their cars are locked, we'll have the upper hand."

Isaac leaned closer, watching the live data stream on the tablet. "And what if they try to override the system?"

"They won't. The systems are sophisticated, but the controls are centralized. By the time they even think of a counter, it'll be too late. They'll be sitting ducks."

Isaac nodded, appreciating her foresight. "Remind me never to get on your bad side."

With a small smile, Catherine closed the tablet, her confidence clear. "As long as we stick to the plan, they won't know what hit them."

The team exchanged determined looks as they continued on their way, knowing that with Catherine's tech skills and quick thinking, they were about to take full control of the mission. They had the advantage—and soon, their enemies would find themselves powerless, trapped in their own vehicles with nowhere to go.

As they continued to strategize, one of the newer recruits couldn't hold back their curiosity any longer. Watching Catherine seamlessly navigate through complex systems, deploying tactics that seemed far too advanced for the average person, they blurted out, "How are you like this?"

Catherine paused, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She glanced at Isaac, then Tony, before she answered. "Shawn taught me."

Her words hung in the air for a moment, carrying weight. Shawn, the man who had been a significant part of her life—gone, but clearly not forgotten. The team knew bits and pieces about him, but there was always more beneath the surface with Catherine.