Chapter 9
Chapter 9 - ReckoningBefore Marcus could take another step, the fire alarm in the building began to scream, its red strobe lights flashing violently. The overhead sprinklers hissed to life, drenching the room in icy water.In the confusion, the glass door behind Marcus shattered into a thousand pieces. Liam charged through the smoke, a heavy steel tire iron in his hand. He slammed into the first security guard, sending him crashing into a row of desks. The second guard lunged, but Liam sidestepped, delivering a powerful blow to the man’s shoulder.
Marcus leveled his taser at Liam, but Clara didn't hesitate. She grabbed a heavy metal desk lamp and threw it with all her might. It caught Marcus squarely in the face, breaking his nose again and sending the taser clattering across the wet floor.
"Clara! The drive!" Liam shouted over the roar of the alarm.
Clara turned to the terminal. The screen read: Download Complete. She ripped the external hard drive out of the slot, shoved it into her jacket, and ran to Liam’s side.
They sprinted down the emergency stairwell, their boots splashing through the water, bursting out into the freezing alleyway behind the building. The storm was howling now, a full blizzard masking their escape. They threw themselves into the truck, Liam slamming on the gas as the blue lights of arriving police cars began to illuminate the front of the tower.
"Where to?" Liam asked, his face covered in sweat and rain.
"The federal building," Clara said, her voice fiercely triumphant. "Deputy Thomas arranged for an emergency meeting with an Assistant U.S. Attorney. Julian thinks he owns the local courts, but he can't buy the FBI."
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Two hours later, inside a brightly lit federal interrogation room in Portland, Clara handed the drive to a team of government agents. As the encrypted files opened, revealing millions of dollars in cartel money routed through Julian’s personal accounts, the lead agent looked up at Clara with newfound respect.
"Mrs. Vance," the agent said, "this isn't just a domestic case anymore. Your husband is going to federal prison for a very, very long time."
