Chapter 8 - The Mayor’s Net
The distorted voice of Mayor Harrison filled the squad room, bouncing off the concrete walls and stripping away the last remaining illusions of municipal integrity. The detectives and patrol officers who had moments ago looked ready to defend their precinct now stood frozen, eyes glued to the floor.
Captain Thomas slowly slid the silver badge back across the desk toward Marcus, his hands shaking slightly. "Turn off the recording, Agent. Point taken."
"The point isn't taken until the warrants are executed, Captain," Agent Sterling replied coldly, tapping the tablet to silence the audio. He turned his attention back to Maya. "You mentioned you secured the original server wipes. Where are they stored?"
"Off-site," Maya answered steadily. "In a secure blockchain ledger that automatically releases to three independent investigative news outlets if my biometric ping drops offline for more than twelve hours."
Sarah Miller strained against her federal zip-ties, her face contorted in rage. "She's bluffing! Nobody is that paranoid!"
"In my line of work, paranoia is just a survival skill," Maya countered, adjusting the strap of her camo bag. She looked at Marcus, offering a brief, reassuring nod that acknowledged the monumental risk he had just taken by tossing his badge on the desk.
Marcus ignored the badge on the captain's desk. Instead, he reached out, picked it up, and slid it back onto his tactical belt with a resolute click. "I'm not resigning, Captain. I'm expanding my jurisdiction to include city hall."
Captain Thomas didn't stop him. He slumped into his leather chair, looking suddenly ten years older. "You walk out those doors, Vance, and you won't have a department to come back to. The mayor's office controls the pension board."
"Let them try to take it," Marcus said, turning toward the exit. "Come on, Maya. We have an appointment with the city clerk before the servers are scrubbed clean."
Agent Sterling stepped into their path, blocking the exit with his federal agents. "Hold on, Officers. You aren't going anywhere unescorted. My team is raiding city hall in twenty minutes. You're riding with us."
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Maya exchanged a quick, calculating glance with Marcus as the heavy federal doors buzzed open to reveal a city street swarming with unmarked black SUVs.
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