The operation entered its sixth day. No one rushed. No one acted irresponsibly. Because Harry Finn had become too unpredictable for anyone to underestimate him.
Inside the command room of the Sterling ancestral house, Victor Reyes stood before a map of Sterling Village.
Every alley. Every house. Every possible escape route. Everything had already been marked.
Chris sat quietly beside the window. His eyes never left the monitor connected to the hidden cameras placed throughout the village. He had barely spoken all morning. His entire attention remained fixed on one person.
Harry Finn.
Around nine in the morning, Harry finally stepped out of the Finn residence.
He looked different again. His shoulder-length hair was neatly tied back. The faint tattoos remained on his arms. Brown contact lenses completely changed his appearance. He wore faded jeans, a loose shirt, and a baseball cap. Nothing about him resembled Carl De Vera anymore. Nothing even resembled Harry Finn from Aurelia Academy.
Victor quietly commented,
"He changes identities as naturally as changing clothes."
Sarah nodded.
"He doesn’t want anyone recognizing him twice."
Chris simply watched.
"Where’s he going?"
The surveillance team followed from a distance.
Harry entered the village grocery store. For nearly an hour, he calmly compared vegetables, checked expiration dates, bought rice, cooking oil, fresh fish, chicken, fruit, medicine and soap.
To anyone watching, he looked like an ordinary man shopping for his family.
Almost, like a husband preparing meals at home.
Victor quietly frowned.
"He’s buying enough food for two."
Chris clenched his fists beneath the table.
"Lily."
After paying for the groceries, Harry didn’t immediately return home.
Instead, he walked leisurely around Sterling Village. He greeted elderly residents. Then stopped briefly near the chapel. He bought bread from a neighborhood bakery.
He looked relaxed. Comfortable. As though he truly belonged there.
The surveillance officers maintained their distance. No one wanted to risk exposing the operation.
Then, Harry unexpectedly stopped walking.
Everyone inside the command room immediately straightened. The hidden camera zoomed in.
Chris’s heartbeat quickened.
Harry stood in front of a familiar two-story house.
Chris and Liliana’s house.
The home where she had quietly lived for five years while Chris built his career. The flower garden remained as beautiful as ever. Colorful roses lined the pathway. The bougainvillea climbed along the white fence.
Standing beside the flowers, watering them carefully was Aunt Melanie.
She looked up as Harry approached.
He smiled politely. "Good morning."
Melanie smiled back. "Good morning."
Harry glanced toward the house.
"It’s beautiful."
Melanie laughed softly.
"My niece takes good care of it. I’ve just been helping while she’s away."
Harry nodded with genuine curiosity.
"I recently moved into the neighborhood. I’ve been admiring this place every time I pass. The flowers are wonderful."
Melanie smiled proudly.
"Most of them were planted by my niece. She loves gardening."
Harry looked at the blooming roses.
"They suit the house."
There was a brief silence.
Then he casually asked, "Does she live here?"
Melanie shook her head.
"Not at the moment. She’s working abroad."
Harry’s expression remained perfectly composed.
"I see. She must travel often."
"She does. She’s a model."
Melanie smiled warmly.
"She’s very busy. But this will always be her home. So I’m making sure everything is neat and tidy."
Harry nodded.
"I hope they visit soon."
"I’m sure they will."
Melanie laughed.
"The family misses them."
Harry smiled one final time.
"It was nice meeting you."
"You too."
He adjusted the grocery bags in his hands and continued walking.
From beginning to end, his expression never changed.
Inside the command room, nobody spoke.
Nathan finally broke the silence.
"He was testing."
Victor nodded.
"He wanted information."
Sarah added quietly,
"He wanted confirmation that nobody suspects anything."
Chris stared at the paused image of Harry walking away from Liliana’s home.
"He looks relieved."
Victor agreed.
"He believes his disguise is working. He thinks the village still believes Liliana is overseas."
Matthew folded his arms.
"Good."
Everyone looked toward him.
"If Harry believes we’re completely unaware..."
"...he’ll become less cautious."
Chris finally understood.
"So we let him keep believing that."
Victor nodded.
"For now."
Late that afternoon, Harry quietly unlocked the front door of the Finn residence. He carried the groceries downstairs.
He passed by the living room and his carefully maintained bedroom.
Then, he lifted the hidden trapdoor concealed beneath the wooden floor. The narrow staircase disappeared into darkness. He carefully descended, balancing the grocery bags in one hand. When he reached the underground room, he smiled.
"Lily."
Liliana slowly looked up from the corner where she sat. She immediately noticed the grocery bags.
"You were gone a long time."
Harry seemed unusually cheerful.
"I walked around the village."
He began arranging vegetables on a small table.
"I met people."
Liliana forced herself to remain calm.
"Oh?"
He nodded happily.
"The neighbors. They’re very kind."
She listened carefully.
"I even spoke with your relatives."
Her heart skipped.
"My..."
"My relatives?"
"Yes."
Harry smiled proudly.
"Your aunt. She was watering your flowers."
Liliana kept her expression as neutral as possible.
"What did she say?"
Harry looked almost pleased with himself.
"She welcomed me. We talked about your house. The flowers. The village."
He laughed softly.
"She thinks I just moved here."
Liliana’s fingers quietly tightened against the blanket.
Harry continued.
"She told me you’re working abroad. And that you’re very busy."
His smile grew.
"So..."
He looked directly into her eyes.
"No one is looking for you. They all believe you’re somewhere in Europe. You see? I told you. We’re finally home."
Liliana lowered her eyes to hide the emotion threatening to appear.
Inside, her heart was racing. Because Harry had unknowingly revealed something important.
He had walked freely through Sterling Village. He had spoken to her family. Which meant he felt safe. Comfortable. Confident.
She slowly lifted her gaze and forced a small smile.
"I’m glad..."
"...the neighbors were kind to you."
Harry’s face brightened immediately.
He mistook her calmness for acceptance.
"I knew you’d understand."
As he turned toward the small kitchen area to prepare dinner, Liliana quietly looked toward the ceiling.
Chris...
If you’re looking for me...
You’re close.
I can feel it.
Above them, only a few hundred meters away, the people searching for her had just learned that Harry believed his deception had worked perfectly.
And that confidence...
Might become the mistake that finally brought Liliana home.
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