Chapter 6 - The Burning Bridge
The intense heat from the exploding mansion reaches the armored SUV parked in the woods.
"Victoria blew up the house to destroy any remaining evidence," Marcus says grimly.
"Did she blow herself up too?" Leo asks, staring at the blazing inferno.
"No, she has a panic room in the basement with a separate escape tunnel," Marcus explains.
Marcus slams his foot on the gas pedal, and the heavy vehicle tears down the dirt road.
They need to reach the downtown police precinct before Victoria's corrupt cops transfer Arthur.
"We cannot just walk into the police station and hand them the ledger," Sam realizes out loud.
"The chief of police works for Victoria, he will just burn the book and shoot us," Sam adds.
Marcus nods in agreement, his eyes focused sharply on the dark road ahead.
"We are not going to the police station," Marcus tells his nephews.
"We are going to a federal judge who owes my military unit a massive favor," he explains.
They speed through the empty city streets, running multiple red lights in their desperation.
They arrive at a high-end luxury apartment building overlooking the river.
Marcus leads the boys past the sleeping security guard and up to the penthouse suite.
He knocks aggressively on the heavy oak door until a sleepy, older man answers.
Judge Harrison looks at Marcus like he has just seen a terrifying ghost.
"Marcus, I attended your funeral five years ago," the judge stammers in shock.
"I need you to sign a federal release order for my brother, Arthur Sterling," Marcus demands.
"I have hard proof that the local police chief is running a criminal syndicate with Victoria Sterling," he adds.
Leo steps forward and hands the red ledger to the skeptical federal judge.
The judge flips through the pages, his eyes growing wider with every damning sentence he reads.
"This book details millions of dollars in bribes and at least three contract killings," the judge whispers.
"I will sign the federal release order and authorize a raid on the local precinct immediately," he promises.
The judge walks over to his desk to print the official government documents.
Suddenly, the front door of the penthouse is kicked completely off its hinges.
Four heavily armed mercenaries storm into the apartment with assault rifles raised.
"Nobody moves a single muscle!" the lead mercenary shouts aggressively.
Victoria walks into the room right behind them, wearing a sleek black coat and a triumphant smile.
"You really thought a zip-tie would hold me for long, Marcus?" Victoria mocks cruelly.
She points her finger at the terrified federal judge standing near his desk.
May you like
"Kill the judge and burn the ledger," Victoria orders her heavily armed men.
Before the mercenaries can pull their triggers, Marcus flips a heavy wooden table for cover.
