Chapter 3 - The Ghost Unit
The revelation that the local law enforcement had actively overseen the brutal assault fundamentally changed the rules of engagement.
Marcus was no longer just fighting a wealthy, arrogant family in a small mountain town.
He was going to war against a fully entrenched criminal syndicate that wore official government badges.
By midnight, Marcus had securely connected with his military technology specialist, an elite hacker named Hayes.
Hayes immediately breached the local municipal networks to verify the movement of Sheriff Landry's patrol car on that horrific night.
The GPS data on the cruiser had been manually wiped, proving deliberate, calculated complicity.
Marcus texted Brooke back on the secure channel, thanking her for the explosive evidence and asking for her location.
Brooke replied that she was locked inside her bedroom at the massive Sterling manor.
She confessed that she was terrified because she had overheard her grandfather, Charles Sterling, talking about covering up the "Lily problem" permanently.
Marcus instructed her to stay absolutely quiet and promised that he would get her out safely.
He needed her to plug a small USB drive into the main physical server located in Charles Sterling's home office.
Brooke agreed, stating that she knew the patrol schedule of the private security guards walking the estate grounds.
Over a secure voice channel, Hayes guided the terrified teenager down the dark, cavernous hallways of the mansion.
Brooke successfully slipped into the office, located the glowing server rack, and inserted the encrypted drive.
Hayes instantly began downloading decades worth of dirty financial ledgers, blackmail material, and property deeds.
Suddenly, the line crackled violently with the sound of heavy, drunken footsteps approaching the office door.
Rowan’s slurred, angry voice echoed through the speaker as he demanded to know why the office light was turned on.
Brooke gasped in sheer terror, accidentally knocking a heavy crystal decanter off the mahogany desk.
The glass shattered loudly against the hardwood floor, echoing throughout the entire silent house.
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Marcus yelled for Brooke to run, but the heavy oak door was violently kicked open.
The audio feed abruptly cut out, leaving Marcus listening to nothing but terrifying, dead static.
