Chapter 9 - The Federal Ambush
The sky above the estate was suddenly illuminated by the blinding white beams of three federal tactical helicopters circling overhead. Megaphones boomed from the air, demanding all occupants drop their weapons and surrender to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Clara emerged from the tunnel onto the dock, holding little Leo safely against her chest, surrounded by tactical federal agents in body armor. Standing beside them was Special Agent Miller, the lead investigator who had secretly worked with Nora before her untimely death.
“Arthur Vance, stand down!” Agent Miller shouted, raising his identification badge. “We have the master server records and the audio files Mrs. Vance deposited in the federal vault!”
Arthur stepped back from the handcuffed Evelyn, raising his hands slowly to show he was unarmed. “Agent Miller, the man with the scorpion tattoo is incapacitated in the basement vault.”
Two tactical officers moved past Arthur into the tunnel, returning minutes later dragging the battered, handcuffed Dominic Cross between them. Dominic glared at Evelyn with venomous betrayal, realizing she had attempted to abandon him with the entire fortune.
“She gave the order, Miller!” Dominic shouted through his broken teeth, spitting blood onto the gravel path. “Evelyn hired me to cut Nora’s brake lines! She paid me with the Vance shell company funds!”
Evelyn shrieked, thrashing against her restraints like a wild beast. “Shut up, you fool! Shut your mouth!”
“I have the wire transfers saved on an encrypted server in Zurich,” Dominic laughed darkly, his sanity completely unraveling in defeat. “You’re going to spend the rest of your miserable life in a federal penitentiary, sister dear!”
May you like
Agent Miller stepped between them, his face stern and unforgiving as his officers pushed both criminals toward the waiting transport vans. “You are both facing charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder of a minor, corporate espionage, and federal conspiracy.”
As they dragged Evelyn past Arthur, she locked eyes with him one final time, her gaze empty of everything except pure, unadulterated venom. Arthur didn't even look back at her, turning his entire attention to the small boy running toward him through the rain.
