Chapter 29
CHAPTER 30: The Broken Chain
I managed to wrest the weapon from the second guard’s hand, knocking him unconscious with the butt of the rifle. The steam was beginning to dissipate, venting through the broken windows above.
Sarah was already at Arthur’s side, using her multi-tool to slice through the heavy plastic zip-ties binding his wrists to the steel chair.
"Julian? Sarah?" Arthur gasped, his voice reedy and weak as he collapsed forward into my arms. "You shouldn't have come. The Vanguard Group... they have the local authorities in their pocket. You walked into a slaughterhouse."
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"We have the brass key, Arthur," I said, showing him the antique metal in my hand. "We know about the deposit box."
Arthur’s eyes went wide with a mixture of terror and hope. "The bank... the First National Bank of Oakwood. It’s a private vault in the basement. But you don't understand... the key isn't enough. You need the biometric signature of a direct Sterling heir to open it. That’s why Eleanor kept you alive, Julian. She needed you to unlock the vault when the time was right."
