Chapter 9 - The Collapse
The ceiling of the massive cavern began to fracture instantly.
Huge chunks of jagged rock rained down around us, smashing violently into the hood of the Mercedes.
"Get in the truck, Dad!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.
I grabbed Priscilla by the collar of her ruined designer jacket and dragged her forcefully toward our battered pickup.
I threw her roughly into the narrow truck bed just as a massive boulder crushed the rear of the Mercedes.
I jumped into the driver's seat and slammed my foot heavily on the gas pedal.
The truck roared to life, tires spinning aggressively in the loose gravel.
The entrance of the mine was rapidly shrinking as a wall of heavy debris collapsed downward.
I steered blindly through the falling rocks, bracing for a devastating impact.
We burst through the narrow opening just a fraction of a second before the entire tunnel collapsed completely.
A massive cloud of thick dust and dirt aggressively swallowed the truck.
I kept driving blindly until we reached the open, deserted highway.
I slammed on the brakes, panting heavily as the dust slowly settled.
My father was coughing violently, his face pale and completely covered in sweat.
"We need to get to a hospital," I said, checking his fading pulse.
"No hospitals," my father whispered weakly.
"Director Vance will have federal agents waiting at every single emergency room in the state."
He was absolutely right.
I was a rogue agent on the run with a kidnapped suspect and a stolen federal drive.
We had absolutely nowhere to go and nobody we could trust.
Suddenly, my encrypted federal phone buzzed violently in my pocket.
I pulled it out, assuming it was another terrifying death threat from Director Vance.
But the caller ID displayed a highly restricted, encrypted number from Washington, D.C.
I answered the call and put it on speakerphone.
"Agent Lin, this is the Inspector General of the United States," a deep, calm voice announced.
"I have been tracking your rogue investigation for the past six hours."
I held my breath, waiting for him to order my immediate execution.
"Bring me the drive," the Inspector General ordered.
"And I will give you the full military support you need to arrest Director Vance."
I looked at my father, who nodded weakly in agreement.
"Where do we meet?" I asked desperately.
May you like
"At the federal courthouse," the voice replied.
"But you should know that your brother David just walked into the lobby and surrendered to the FBI."
