Chapter 12 - Skyward Bound
The sound of approaching sirens wailed through the mountain valley, their blue flashing lights reflecting against the low-hanging winter clouds. The Swiss federal authorities were finally closing the perimeter of the airfield, their armored vehicles already smashing through the shattered gate.
""Vance! We cannot stay here!"" Miller shouted from the tarmac, dragging the wounded Elena toward the airstair. ""If the cantonal police secure this bird, we all end up in a black site in Bern! Get inside!""
Julian didn't hesitate. He hoisted Lucas up by the armpits, dragging his brother’s limp, drug-heavy body across the threshold into the luxurious, cream-leather cabin of the Gulfstream. Miller followed, carrying Elena over his shoulder, her head lolling against his back as she struggled to maintain consciousness. Julian turned to the doorway. Arthur lay on the wet platform outside, coughing violently, clutching his twisted wrist, his expensive coat soaked in de-icing chemical slush.
""Leave him,"" Miller barked, hitting the hydraulic door control. ""He can explain sixty billion dollars in unregistered bearer accounts to the federal prosecutor.""
""No,"" Julian said, his jaw set. ""If we leave him, his political connections will have him out of custody before sunrise. He comes with us."" Julian reached out, grabbed his father by the collar of his coat, and dragged the old man kicking and snarling into the aircraft cabin just as the heavy air-stair hissed upward and sealed shut with a pressurized thud.
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Miller sprinted straight to the cockpit, kicking open the door to confront the contracted charter pilots. ""Listen to me very carefully,"" Miller’s voice rang out, cold and lethal. ""The control tower is about to order a total ground stop. You will ignore them, you will line up on runway two-seven, and you will fire maximum throttle. If you touch the radio, I will drop both of you out of the service hatch at twelve thousand feet. Fly.""
The pilots didn't argue. The Gulfstream’s engines screamed to full takeoff power, throwing Julian, Lucas, and Arthur against the cabin floor as the jet surged forward down the icy runway, lifting off into the stormy alpine sky just as three police cruisers swarmed the tarmac below.
