Chapter 18 - The Rot Within
An hour later, the barn had transformed into a temporary federal command post. Flashing red and blue lights from half a dozen unmarked government SUVs painted the old wooden walls in shifting crimson and azure strokes. Paramilitary agents in full tactical gear were cataloging seized weapons and bundling encrypted hardware into heavy aluminum cases.
Julian Vance sat handcuffed on an overturned plastic crate near the sliding barn door, his expensive Italian suit jacket stained with dust and hay. He sneered as Elena walked past him, flanked by Marshal Miller and two federal agents.
"You think this is over, Elena?" Vance muttered, his voice cold and dripping with venom. "The syndicate isn't just Marcus and a few accountants. It goes all the way to the bench. You can run to the end of the earth, but the files on that flash drive will destroy every single one of your precious protectors."
Elena didn't break her stride. She looked down at him with a calm, steady gaze that completely stripped away his arrogance. "Let the judges fall, Julian. We survived Marcus, and we'll survive whatever is left of your ghost company."
She walked out into the cool autumn air, guiding Hailey toward a waiting black SUV with tinted windows. The federal agents had arranged for them to be transferred to a secure safehouse three hours north, nestled deep in the Adirondack Mountains, while the internal investigation at the Department of Justice was carried out.
Miller held open the back door of the SUV, letting Hailey climb inside first before turning to Elena.
"The flash drive you pulled from the fireplace," Miller said quietly, lowering his voice so the other agents couldn't overhear. "Did you look at the contents?"
"No," Elena replied honestly. "I just found it right before they broke through the mudroom."
Miller reached into his pocket and handed her a small, tamper-evident evidence envelope containing the ruggedized drive. "Keep it, Elena. Not because the Marshals need it, but because it's your leverage. The man who leaked your location to Vance—Assistant Director Harrison—has already been detained. But the network is massive. That drive contains the offshore account numbers for every politician and judge on their payroll."
Elena took the envelope, sliding it deep into the inner pocket of her jacket. "And if they come looking for it again?"
May you like
"Then we strike first," Miller said grimly, closing the car door and tapping the roof twice to signal the driver.
***
