Chapter 19 - The Signal from the Depot
“You’re too late,” I whispered, staring up at Sterling with cold fury. “Judge Harrison transmitted the master civil petition to the international banking tribunal three hours ago. Even if you kill us, the indictment is already public.”
David Sterling’s smug smile faltered for a fraction of a second, the gold pen stopping dead in his hand. He stepped forward, his eyes narrowing dangerously. “What did you say?”
Before Sterling could answer, the small satellite emergency communicator clipped to Ethan’s tactical vest suddenly crackled to life, breaking the heavy silence of the server room.
“Ethan... Emily... do you copy?” Judge Harrison’s voice came through the speaker, strained, breathless, and interrupted by the unmistakable crackle of distant gunfire and burning timber.
Sterling’s head snapped toward the radio. He lunged forward, grabbing the communicator from Ethan’s vest before Ethan could react.
“Judge Harrison, I presume?” Sterling spoke into the device, his voice dripping with venom. “I trust your accommodations in Indiana are meeting your expectations.”
“Sterling,” Harrison’s voice rasped through the static, coughing slightly from smoke inhalation. “You’re... you’re too late. The petition has cleared the appellate registry. Vanguard’s assets are currently being frozen by order of the international banking oversight committee.”
A loud explosion echoed through the radio speaker, followed by the sound of glass shattering and heavy boots storming a wooden building.
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“Cut the feed!” Sterling roared, slamming the satellite communicator down onto the floor and smashing it to pieces beneath the heel of his expensive Italian leather shoe. He turned back to us, his face twisted in absolute rage. “Kill them. Take them up to the roof and throw them over the edge. Make it look like a suicide pact.”
The two security guards behind Ethan and me yanked us violently to our feet, their assault rifles raised, pressing cold steel against the backs of our necks as they dragged us toward the emergency stairwell leading to the roof of Vanguard Plaza.
