Chapter 5 - THE STATE ATTORNEY'S GAMBITZ
By 0700 hours the following morning, the atmosphere in the capital city of Raleigh was crisp and fast-paced. I stood outside the state capitol building, wearing my full Army Service Uniform—decorated with my ribbons, airborne wings, and Lieutenant Colonel rank.
I wasn't here to ask for favors. I was here to launch an operational strike.
I walked into the office of Special Prosecutor Katherine Vance—ironically, no relation to the Vance family of Oak Creek, but a woman known throughout the state as an unyielding, incorruptible force against public corruption.
Her assistant tried to stop me at the front desk. "Ma'am, do you have an appointment? Prosecutor Vance is preparing for a major trial—"
"Tell her Lieutenant Colonel Nicole Turner is here with a federal-level public corruption dossier," I said calmly, stepping past the desk.
The office door opened, and Katherine Vance stepped out. She was in her mid-forties, with sharp dark eyes, pulled-back hair, and a presence that commanded immediate respect. She looked at my uniform, then at the thick leather briefcase in my right hand.
"Colonel Turner," Katherine said, gesturing toward her office. "You have five minutes."
I stepped inside, closing the door behind me. I placed the briefcase on her desk, popped the brass latches, and opened it. Inside lay three flash drives, dozens of bank statements, transcribed confessions from the three arsonists, and high-definition video recordings.
"Five minutes is more than enough, Prosecutor," I said. "What you are looking at is evidence of a multi-million-dollar money laundering scheme operating out of Oak Creek, North Carolina, run by Vance Enterprises."
Katherine frowned, leaning over her desk to glance at the documents. "Vance Enterprises? Richard Vance is one of the largest political donors in the region. He has deep ties in the state legislature."
"He also has deep ties to foreign shell companies in the Cayman Islands," I countered, pulling out a flow chart prepared by Grizz's team. "Here are the paper trails. Over the last four years, Vance Enterprises has funneled over forty million dollars in dirty capital through municipal real estate developments in Oak Creek. When local business owners refused to sell, Chief Thomas Miller of the Oak Creek PD was used to intimidate them, falsify charges, or cover up violent crimes."
She picked up one of the files, her eyes scanning the financial tracking sheets. "This is... remarkably detailed. Where did you get this information?"
"From private intelligence assets," I replied truthfully. "Yesterday, Julian Vance physically assaulted my seventy-five-year-old mother inside her diner. When Chief Miller refused to press charges and attempted to bury the investigation, Vance sent three hired hitmen to burn my mother's diner to the ground last night. I captured them. Their video confessions implicating Julian Vance are on Flash Drive A."
Katherine looked up at me, a mixture of shock and intense professional interest in her eyes. "You captured three arsonists yourself?"
"I am an active-duty Battalion Commander in the United States Army, Prosecutor," I said flatly. "Disarming three low-level criminals is not a difficult task."
She leaned back in her chair, holding the flash drive in her fingers. "If even half of what you're showing me is verified, this isn't just assault and arson. This is RICO—Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations. It's a state and federal felony."
"It's all verified," I assured her. "And every hour you wait, Richard Vance is moving money to offshore accounts to prepare for his escape. His son is currently walking free in Oak Creek, believing he is completely untouchable."
Katherine stared at me for a long moment, assessing my determination. "What do you want, Colonel?"
"I want justice," I said, leaning over the desk. "I want full state arrest warrants for Julian Vance for felony assault and attempted arson. I want arrest warrants for Chief Thomas Miller for official misconduct and obstruction of justice. And I want a state freeze on all bank accounts tied to Vance Enterprises."
A slow, ruthless smile appeared on Katherine Vance's face. "You don't ask for much, do you?"
"I don't ask at all," I replied. "I deliver the evidence. You execute the law."
Katherine picked up her desk phone and dialed an internal extension. "Get me the State Bureau of Investigation, Director's office. Tell them we have a Priority-One RICO operation launching in Oak Creek within the hour."
May you like
She hung up the phone and looked back at me. "Colonel Turner, I suggest you stay out of the way while the SBI handles the arrests. This could get ugly."
"With all due respect, Prosecutor," I said, adjusting my uniform cap, "I'm going back to Oak Creek. I want to look Julian Vance in the eye when the handcuffs go on."
