Chapter 3 - The Golden Bell
Judge Harrison looked absolutely terrified, his judicial robes stained with sweat.
Margaret dropped her designer purse, the expensive leather slapping against the floor.
“What is the meaning of this?” Richard Pembroke yelled, finally finding his voice.
One of the federal agents stepped forward and flashed a badge.
“Judge Harrison was just indicted on seventeen counts of federal bribery and wire fraud,” the agent announced.
My father tore the custody documents exactly in half and let the pieces flutter to the floor.
“Your legal leverage is gone, Margaret,” my father said.
I pulled June closer to my chest, feeling a brief surge of victory.
But my father did not look victorious.
He looked deeply concerned.
He turned to me and asked to see the pet collar Margaret had given the baby.
I reached into the diaper bag slung over my shoulder and pulled out the velvet box.
I handed the black leather collar to my father.
He pulled a small tactical knife from his pocket and carefully sliced open the tiny gold bell attached to it.
A microscopic computer chip fell out of the bell and landed in his palm.
Margaret lunged forward with a sudden, vicious scream.
One of the military police officers easily caught her by the shoulder and pinned her against the wall.
I stared at the microchip, completely bewildered.
“What is that?” I asked.
“It is a heavily encrypted data drive containing classified drone schematics,” my father explained.
He looked at Richard and Wesley with absolute disgust.
“Your husband's family isn't just corrupt, Nora,” he said.
“They are selling state secrets to foreign syndicates, and Margaret tried to use your baby as a blind mule to smuggle this out of the house.”
May you like
Wesley suddenly reached into his designer jacket.
Before any of the armed officers could react, Wesley pulled out a silver pistol and aimed it directly at my daughter's head.
