Chapter 14
The grand granite steps of the state capitol building gleamed under the floodlights of a dozen major news networks. Satellite broadcast vans lined the boulevard for three blocks in every direction, their towering antennas cutting dark lines across the twilight sky.
When the classic blue Chevrolet pulled up to the curb and parked directly in front of the massive bronze doors, a wall of camera shutters erupted in a blinding storm of light.
Marcus stepped out from the driver's side, wearing his black shirt, his expression calm and resolute. Agent Vance emerged from the passenger side, holding the encrypted flash drive securely in his briefcase.
The attorney general herself stepped out from the capitol portico, flanked by two state troopers, her expression grim but determined.
"Agent Vance, Mr. Marcus," the attorney general said loudly enough for the microphones to catch every syllable. "Have you brought the verification files?"
Vance opened the briefcase and handed the flash drive directly to her. "Every transaction, every fraudulent land seizure, and every internal communications record linked to Director Sterling and Captain Hayes is contained on this drive."
The attorney general inserted the drive into a secure mobile terminal held by her chief of staff. Within seconds, a green verification checkmark flashed across the handheld screen, instantly broadcasting the metadata hash to the national legislative registry.
"The network override is confirmed," the attorney general announced to the gathered press corps. "Warrants for the arrest of all implicated municipal and federal officials are effective immediately."
As the crowd of reporters surged forward with frantic questions, Marcus looked down at his hands, feeling the last lingering tension of the long day finally leave his shoulders.
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The struggle was over. The truth was out in the open.
Yet, as Marcus turned back to look at the classic blue Chevrolet parked against the capitol curb, he noticed something strange glinting beneath the rear chassis—a small, blinking red light that had nothing to do with the truck's internal systems.
