Chapter 10 - The Ambush in the Corridor
The sharp crash of the metal door reverberated down the hallway, followed immediately by the rapid, heavy clatter of multiple pairs of leather-soled shoes marching purposefully toward Room 412.
Judge Sterling cursed softly under his breath, turning his frail body to face the doorway. "They tracked us faster than I anticipated," he muttered, gripping his wooden cane like a club. "Vance must have realized I pulled the public records."
Ethan stood up instantly, stepping protectively in front of Sarah and the bassinet. "Who is it? More of Vance’s corporate thugs?"
"Worse," the judge replied grimly. "That’s private security. Armed, licensed, and operating under a fabricated court order for asset seizure."
The door flew open before anyone could react. Two men in tactical black suits, wearing tactical vests emblazoned with a generic private security logo, strode into the room. They didn't shout or draw weapons, but their cold, professional efficiency was far more terrifying than any theatrical display of force.
"Mr. Ethan Davis," the lead guard stated, his voice flat and devoid of emotion. "You are in possession of documents belonging to Vance Enterprises. Step away from the bed immediately and hand over the file."
Ethan held his ground, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. "These documents prove that Mr. Vance committed fraud to steal my family’s land! I’m not giving you a damn thing."
The guard took a slow, deliberate step forward, his hand hovering near the heavy-duty zip ties on his utility belt. "We don't care about your land, Mr. Davis. We care about the trust deed and the geological survey reports tucked inside that folder. Hand them over right now, or we remove them by force."
Sarah clutched the baby tighter to her chest, her eyes wide with panic. "You can't do this! This is a hospital! We’ll call the police!"
"The local police department is currently detained three miles away answering a false bomb threat at the county courthouse," the second guard said with a cruel, thin smile. "Nobody is coming to help you."
Judge Sterling stepped forward, thrusting his silver-headed cane into the space between the guards and the bed. "I am a retired circuit court judge of this state," the old man declared, his voice ringing with absolute authority. "If you take one more step into this room, I will personally sign arrest warrants for armed robbery, kidnapping, and conspiracy that will keep every single one of you in a maximum-security penitentiary until you’re fifty years old!"
The lead guard hesitated for a split second, clearly unaccustomed to facing legal pushback from an elderly man. But the hesitation lasted only a moment before he reached out, gripping the top of the wooden cane and violently yanking it out of the judge's hands.
Judge Sterling stumbled forward, losing his balance and crashing hard against the metal rolling table. The medical trays scattered across the floor with a deafening clatter of stainless steel.
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Ethan roared in fury, launching himself across the small room straight at the lead guard’s chest.
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