Chapter 11 - The Federal Line
""Mark Sterling?"" the man in the trench coat shouted over the roar of the rain and sirens. ""Federal Bureau of Investigation. Drop your weapon and keep your hands visible!""
Mark looked down at his empty hands. He had discarded the useless pistol two floors up. He raised his arms slowly, letting the rain wash the soot from his skin. He was exhausted, bleeding through his trousers, and his body screamed with every beat of his heart.
""The building is burning,"" Mark said, his voice hoarse. ""There are people trapped in Sub-level 3.""
""Fire teams are already entering the utility shafts,"" the agent replied, waving his team forward. Two agents quickly approached, patting Mark down and securing his wrists in plastic zip-ties. ""I'm Special Agent Vance. Marcus Vance.""
Mark flinched at the surname. His muscles tensed, preparing for another fight.
The agent held up a hand, catching the reaction. ""I'm Elena's brother. The older one. The one who left ten years ago to build a case against our father.""
Mark slowly released his breath, the tension leaving his chest in a shuddering exhale. ""Elena... where is she? Where is Lily?""
""They crossed the state line twenty minutes ago under federal escort,"" Marcus said, gesturing toward a warm black sedan with tinted windows. ""They're safe, Mark. Your daughter is receiving medical treatment at a private facility in Helena. The ankle was lacerated, but there's no permanent nerve damage. She's going to walk.""
A heavy weight that Mark didn't realize he was carrying seemed to snap inside his chest. He stumbled, his knees nearly giving out, but Marcus caught him by the elbow, guiding him toward the warmth of the sedan.
""Julian and Victoria?"" Mark asked, looking back at the smoking skyscraper as fire trucks wailed down the avenue.
""If the smoke doesn't kill them, the indictment will,"" Marcus said coldly, opening the car door for him. ""Elena provided sixteen gigabytes of encrypted financial ledgers. Combined with the genetic trafficking files you just forced them to burn down, their entire syndicate is collapsing across four continents tonight. The Vance name is dead.""
Mark sat in the back of the car, the heated interior stopping his violent shivering. He leaned his head against the glass, watching the black tower burn against the night sky.
""Am I under arrest?"" Mark asked.
May you like
Marcus looked at him in the rearview mirror, his eyes devoid of hostility. ""You're a key federal witness, Mr. Sterling. But right now? You're a father who needs to see his kid. We leave for Montana in ten minutes.""
The car engine purred to life, pulling out into the rainy streets. But as they turned the corner onto the interstate highway, a heavy black armored truck slammed broadside into their lead escort vehicle, sending it spinning into a ditch.
