Chapter 9
The live feed on the wall monitor showed the hooded figure pressing a button on the programmer. With a sharp chirp, the hazard lights of the blue truck flashed twice, and the engine roared to life with the unmistakable deep rumble of a modified small-block V8.
Director Sterling slammed his hand onto the metal table, rattling Marcus’s handcuffs. "That's impossible! We towed the primary asset to the federal depot two hours ago!"
"You towed the chassis," Marcus said, keeping his voice level. "The actual communication node was swapped out during the neighborhood block party last Tuesday. You seized an empty shell."
Sterling turned sharply toward the door, yelling out into the hallway. "Get a tactical unit down to the municipal impound lot immediately! Stop that truck before it reaches the county line!"
The heavy door burst open, but it wasn't a tactical officer who stepped into the room. Agent Vance walked in, holding a heavy encrypted tablet that displayed a live GPS map of the county.
"Too late, Director," Vance said calmly, setting the tablet down next to the manila folder. "The decoy vehicle just crossed into state jurisdiction. The state police have already established a protective escort."
Sterling spun around, his face dark with rage. "You betrayed the bureau, Vance. You're an accomplice to federal property theft."
"I'm an investigator of internal affairs," Vance corrected, tapping the screen of the tablet. "And my mandate comes directly from the congressional oversight committee—the same committee that just received the complete financial ledger of your land-grab syndicate."
Marcus watched Sterling's composure finally crack. The untouchable director of regional infrastructure was suddenly just a terrified bureaucrat facing federal indictment.
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"You think this stops with me?" Sterling whispered, leaning in close, his voice trembling with suppressed fury. "You think the people funding this project will just let you walk out of this building?"
Marcus looked straight into Sterling's eyes, feeling no fear—only the heavy, crushing weight of the truth finally coming to light. "They won't have to let us walk out," Marcus said softly. "The federal marshals are already waiting in the lobby."
