Chapter 13
The federal intake facility in downtown Seattle was a fortress of reinforced concrete and bulletproof glass, designed to process high-level white-collar criminals and state witnesses under maximum security. Inside the secure conference room on the tenth floor, the atmosphere was thick with tense anticipation.
Julian sat at the long conference table, reviewing the final digital transfer logs on his laptop. Across from him sat Special Prosecutor Sarah Miller, her legal team rapidly organizing the physical exhibits, bank statements, and the sworn accountant's deposition into neat stacked binders.
Clara sat in a comfortable armchair near the corner of the room with Lily, who was busy coloring a new picture of a soaring wolf in her spiral notebook, completely insulated from the heavy legal battle unfolding around them.
"The federal grand jury has been empounded," Sarah stated, looking up from her tablet with a grim, resolute expression. "We have enough verified evidence on these drives to issue immediate arrest warrants for Marcus Vance and every seated executive on the Vause board. The indictments will be filed at dawn."
Julian closed his laptop with a quiet click, leaning back in his chair. "And my father?"
"His offshore accounts are already being frozen by the Treasury Department," Sarah replied gently. "Julian, there's no turning back from this. Your testimony as a board officer will corroborate every financial irregularity. You're looking at a complete dismantling of Vause Industries."
"Good," Julian said, his voice steady and resolute. "It should have happened twenty years ago."
Suddenly, the overhead fluorescent lights in the conference room flickered and died.
The emergency backup lighting kicked on instantly, bathing the room in a dull, amber glow. But the true alarm came from the digital wall monitors, which instantly flashed a bright crimson warning: ‘NETWORK COMPROMISED - EXTERNAL FIREWALL BREACH.’
"What is this?" Sarah demanded, standing up sharply from her chair as she grabbed her encrypted desk phone. "Security, report!"
Static hissed through the speaker system, followed by the sound of muffled shouting and gunfire echoing from the stairwell outside.
"They're here," Julian said, his eyes narrowing with cold realization. He stood up instantly, moving quickly across the room to stand protectively in front of Clara and Lily.
Before Sarah could respond, the heavy steel-reinforced door of the conference room shuddered violently. A concussive flashbang grenade slammed through the frosted glass panel, detonating with a blinding white flash and a deafening shockwave that rattled the entire floor.
Smoke billowed into the room. Through the swirling white haze, three heavy-set tactical operatives wearing unmarked black vests and riot helmets surged through the shattered doorway, their weapons raised with lethal intent.
Marcus Vance stepped casually into the room behind them, adjusting the cuffs of his expensive tailored suit, a cold, calculated smile playing across his lips.
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"Well, well, well," Marcus murmured smoothly, his eyes scanning the room before locking onto Julian. "Family reunions are always so messy, aren't they?"
***
