Chapter 10
The interior of Miller’s house looked less like a home and more like an operational command center. Bank of monitors lined one wall of the living room, displaying live feeds from security cameras mounted around the expansive perimeter. Miller strode directly to the control console, his fingers flying across a mechanical keyboard to lock down all exterior access points and activate the high-resolution thermal cameras covering the access road.
"Look at that," Miller murmured, pointing to a monitor displaying the infrared signature of the dark SUV idling just outside the perimeter fence. "Vehicle is registered to a corporate leasing agency downtown. Standard shell setup for untraceable municipal surveillance."
Rebecca placed the baby carrier gently on a plush sofa, immediately kneeling to unwrap Leo and check his temperature. The baby had finally quieted down, sucking on his pacifier with tired regularity. Arthur stood behind her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder while keeping a watchful eye on the monitors.
"Can they breach the fence, Tom?" Arthur asked, his voice strained.
"Not without heavy equipment," Miller replied without turning around. "The perimeter is reinforced steel cable set in concrete pilings. But the fact that they tracked you here means Julian has eyes inside local transit and toll tag readers. He’s burning every bridge he has to intercept that flash drive."
Rebecca reached into her travel pouch, pulling out the small black flash drive and holding it up in the harsh light of the living room. "All the wire transfers, audio logs of the bribe negotiations with Henderson, and the shell company registry documents are right here. Can this take him down?"
Miller took the flash drive from her hand, turning it over in his palm with a grim smile. "This isn't just enough to take Julian down, Rebecca. This is a master key to an entire corruption ring operating within the city council. Henderson is going to sing like a canary once we slap federal conspiracy charges on him."
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"We need to move fast," Arthur interjected, stepping toward the console. "If Julian realizes we reached your property, he might try to destroy physical evidence at his office or flee the jurisdiction before a federal warrant can be signed."
Miller nodded, plugging the flash drive into a secured terminal on his desk. The screen flickered green as the system decrypted the files. "I’m uploading this directly to the U.S. Attorney’s office downtown. We’ll execute simultaneous raids on Julian’s office and Henderson’s residence at dawn. But until then, you stay right here where I can watch the perimeter."
