"Sal! Can you believe what's happened?" Vinnie's voice erupted from the speaker, his team in Dallas already reeling from the shocking news.

"It's hard to stomach," Sal replied, his tone thick with revulsion.

He caught Nick's eye, noting his teammate's intense focus on the laptop before him, fingers dancing rapidly over the keys. "Vinnie, there's more to it than just the cave," Sal weighed in, burdened by the gravity of their discussion. "Tourists were caught in it... innocent people died. This wasn't some tragic accident; it was calculated, a chilling warning from them."

"I know, Sal. We'll figure this out. This is bigger than we thought, but we're not letting these bastards win. You guys being careful? How are you feeling?"

Sal shifted his gaze to Nick, observing him as he sifted through lines of data "Yeah, all good here. Nick must have gotten a brainstorm. He's manhandling his laptop."

Catching the moment, Nick briefly paused to flash Sal the middle finger not missing a beat in his data analysis.

A chuckle from Vinnie momentarily lifted the somber atmosphere. "If anyone's going to crack this case, it'll be Nick."

Their conversation was suddenly interrupted. "Hang on, Sal, Roger's on the other line. I need to take this call. I'll get back to you both shortly."

Turning to Nick, intrigued by his unwavering concentration, Sal inquired, "What's caught your attention there?"

Nick paused, "I've developed a quick script to sift through the data based on specific queries. I'm wrapping up entering different variables now, like 'Gurvan Saikan' and the words, inked on Walter's tattoo, our names. Just about done."

As Nick confidently pressed enter, the room was charged with a clear sense of anticipation. The program sprang to life, processing the variables with a speed that reflected Nick's expertise. Nick leaned in; eyes fixed on the screen as the results began to populate.

"What?" Sal screamed from the bed.

The revelation that unfolded was nothing short of astonishing. "Holy shit," Nick exclaimed, unable to hide his amazement at the discovery. The screen displayed a series of connections and patterns that, until this moment, had been obscured by the complexity of their data.

Again, Sal yelled, "Nick?"

"Okay, so check this out, Sal," Nick began, his voice steady, ensuring Sal grasped the full weight of his discovery. "The connection I've found isn't just a random assortment of letters or names. It's deliberate, intricately planned. Walter was directing us to the cave."
He paused for a moment, ensuring Sal was following. "The tattoo, Walter didn't just choose any words. The first letter of each word spells out GURVAN. You know, Grace, Understanding, Respect, Virtue, Appreciation, & Nobility. Pretty profound, right?"

Sal nodded, his brow furrowing as he absorbed the information, the gears turning in his mind.

Nick paused for emphasis, allowing the significance to sink in before delivering the next revelation. "These initials also match up with oursâ?"our last names. Gallo, Unser, Rosetti, Van Phelps, Antanucci, Namochi. GURVAN."

Nick leaned in closer, the urgency in his voice underscored by the revelation's magnitude. "This tattoo solidifies what we now know," he continued, his tone bordering on reverence for the depth of Walter's foresight. "Walter had discovered oil beneath the cave in Gurvan Saikan National Park. The tattoo was Walter's way of pointing us to that cave."

Sal's eyes widened, a mixture of surprise and comprehension washing over him. "But what about the initials of our last names spelling out Gurvan?"

"It's eerie, isn't it? Almost like it's too perfect to just be a coincidence."

Sal, still processing, leaned back slightly, a skeptical yet intrigued look on his face. "But could it really just be a coincidence? I mean, how could Walter have known?"

Nick shook his head, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, driven by the absurdity and wonder of their situation. "That's the million-dollar question, isn't it? Did Walter somehow orchestrate this, knowing who would eventually join the team? Or is it just one of those bizarre twists of fate?"

The room filled with a contemplative silence as both men considered the possibility. The notion that their connection to the cave, to each other, and to Walter's discovery might have been predestined was both baffling and awe-inspiring.

"Either way," Nick continued, breaking the silence, "it's like we were meant to uncover this, to follow the trail Walter left behind. Whether by design or by sheer cosmic luck, we're here, and we've got a mystery to solve that's bigger than any of us could have imagined."

Sal nodded, the initial shock giving way to a renewed sense of purpose. "Coincidence or not, we've got a path laid out in front of us. Walter trusted us with thisâ?"whatever 'this' is. It's up to us to figure it out, to see it through to the end."

As Sal's words hung in the air, they were interrupted by the sound of Sal's phone ringing again. Glancing at the caller ID, he saw it was Vinnie, returning the call as promised. Sal put Vinnie on the speaker so Nick could hear.

"Guys, I've got news," Vinnie's voice came through. "Just got off the line with Roger. They've completed the autopsy report on the body we found in the cave."

Nick paused his work, closing the laptop and turning his full attention to the call.

"It was Bayar," Vinnie revealed "The autopsy confirmed it."

"Bayar?" Sal questioned. "Didn't Jeremiah tell us that him and Walter had an argument?"

"Yes. Strange. Now they're both dead." Vinnie noted.

"Maybe they both knew too much," Sal commented.

"Maybe and--" Vinnie responded but was abruptly interrupted by Nick.

Nick interjected, redirecting their attention to the unfolding news. "Hold on, Vinnie. The Prime Minister of Mongolia, Altansukh Narantuya, is about to make an announcement about the cave collapse on TV."

"I'm watching too. I'll call you back."

Sal quickly turned up the volume with his remote and listened intently as Prime Minister Narantuya appeared on the screen, a grave expression marking his features. Behind him, the flag of Mongolia served as a solemn backdrop to the announcement that was about to unfold.

"My fellow citizens and friends from around the world," Prime Minister Narantuya began, his voice steady but heavy with sorrow, "it is with a heavy heart that I address you today regarding the tragic incident in the Gurvan Saikan National Park."

Sal and Nick stared attentively at the screen.

"Early reports confirm the loss of five precious lives, including three Americans and two of our own Mongolian citizens, in what can only be described as a catastrophic collapse within one of our national treasures."

Sal and Nick exchanged a glance, the mention of the Americans adding another layer to their grief and resolve.

"This event is not only a tragedy for the families of those lost but for all of us as a nation and as a global community. I have ordered a comprehensive investigation to determine the cause of the collapse, and we will not rest until we have answers."

Nick's gaze remained fixed on the screen, absorbing every word, every nuance of the Prime Minister's statement. It was a public acknowledgment of the catastrophe, an official declaration that what had happened was of national and international concern.

"To the families of those we have lost," Prime Minister Narantuya continued, his voice softening, "my heart goes out to you. In this time of unimaginable sorrow, know that you do not grieve alone. We stand with you, sharing your pain and your loss."

As the statement concluded with a traditional Mongolian prayer for the deceased, offering solace and strength to the bereaved families, Nick and Sal remained silent, each lost in thought. The official acknowledgment of the incident by the highest political authority in Mongolia underscored the gravity of the situation and the urgency of their quest for answers.