ISAAC MORANO

**28**

Chapter Twenty Eight- Coffee Date

Catherine arrived at the café by the docks, the familiar scent of coffee mingling with the salty sea breeze. The place was quaint, with mismatched furniture and a cozy ambiance, perfect for a casual meeting. She spotted Charlie seated at a corner table, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on her. A wide smile broke across his face.

"Catherine!" he exclaimed, rising to greet her. "I'm so glad you came."

"Of course," she replied, forcing a smile as she slid into the seat across from him. "What's this about wanting to make it up to me?"

Charlie leaned forward, his expression earnest. "I know I've messed up in the past, and I really want to show you that I can be different. You're important to me."

She nodded, intrigued but cautious. "I appreciate that. But I also need to know what you can tell me about Safe and Secure."

His demeanor shifted slightly, the smile faltering. "What do you mean?"

"I know you have connections there, Charlie. If you want to make this up to me, I need information. What are they planning?" She kept her tone steady, trying to gauge his reaction.

He hesitated, glancing around as if he were checking for eavesdroppers. "I—I can't just spill everything. They're watching closely, and I don't want to put myself in danger."

Catherine leaned in, lowering her voice. "If you care about me at all, you'll understand the stakes here. People's lives are at risk. If you have any information, now's the time to share it."

Charlie's expression hardened for a moment, then he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Alright. I've overheard some things. They're ramping up their surveillance operations, focusing on a group of activists. They want to eliminate anyone who poses a threat to their business."

Catherine felt a rush of adrenaline. "How soon is this happening?"

"Soon. They're planning a major operation in the next few days. If you can get evidence, it might just be enough to stop them."

"Charlie, you're taking a huge risk by telling me this," she said, her voice softening slightly. "But I need to know everything you can give me."

"I can try to get more intel, but you need to promise me that you'll keep my name out of it," he replied, urgency creeping into his tone.

"Of course. I'll protect you," she assured him, knowing full well the complexities of their situation.

As they chatted more, Catherine made sure to keep the conversation light when possible, allowing Charlie to relax a bit. But she was acutely aware of the ticking clock; her team was out gathering information, and she needed to join them soon.

After a few more minutes of small talk, Catherine stood up. "I need to get going, but I'll be in touch. Please be careful, Charlie. I don't want anything to happen to you."

He nodded, looking both relieved and anxious. "Just promise me you'll be careful too. They're not just watching me; they'll come after anyone connected to this."

With that, Catherine left the café, her mind racing with the new information she had. Charlie had given her a crucial lead, and now it was time to regroup with her team and formulate a plan to counter Safe and Secure's impending operations. The stakes were higher than ever, but she felt more empowered to take action.

Back at the Safe and Secure headquarters, Isaac, Lucas, Marco, and the rest of the team moved with precision and purpose. Disguised as maintenance workers, they'd gained access through a service entrance, blending seamlessly into the building's operations.