Chapter 6 - THE BAIT
To destroy Julian, they needed him out in the open, arrogant and unprotected.
Arthur used an untraceable burner phone to call Julian’s private office line.
"Sterling," Arthur’s voice boomed through the receiver. "I'm the guy who broke your thugs' jaws at the truck stop. I have the girl, I have the kid, and I have the flash drive."
There was a tense silence on the line before Julian’s slick, venomous voice replied. "Name your price, you filthy trucker."
"Two million dollars. Cash," Arthur demanded. "And you sign a legal document relinquishing all rights to the boy. You meet me at the abandoned rail yard on the edge of the county line tonight at midnight. Come alone, or the drive goes to the New York Times."
Julian laughed. "You think you're smart, old man? I'll be there."
When Arthur hung up, Elena looked at him, terrified. "He won't come alone. He'll bring an army."
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"I know," Arthur smiled grimly. "That's exactly what I'm counting on."
They spent the next six hours rigging the abandoned rail yard. Arthur used his mechanical expertise to set up floodlights, remote-controlled heavy machinery, and cameras hidden in the rusted train cars. The journalist, alerted and waiting in a satellite van three miles away, was ready to broadcast the feed live to millions of viewers.
