Chapter 7 - The Mastermind
The heavy steel door began to severely buckle under the repeated, violent strikes.
Chloe frantically typed override commands into the terminal, trying desperately to find a backup cellular network.
"It's no use," she cursed loudly, slamming her fists hard on the metal desk.
"They've completely and physically isolated this entire building from the grid."
I took deep, shuddering breaths as the grim reality of our situation finally sank in.
My baby was coming right now, and we were trapped in a soundproof steel cage.
The door finally gave way with a deafening, terrifying crash.
Armed, masked guards flooded rapidly into the cramped server room.
They viciously ripped Chloe away from the computer terminal and pinned her violently to the floor.
Arthur Vance walked slowly and arrogantly through the broken doorway.
He carefully avoided stepping on the scattered, shattered debris.
He was not alone.
Agent Mercer walked casually by his side, holding a massive pair of heavy bolt cutters.
"You cut the data cables," I realized aloud, staring at the corrupt agent.
Mercer offered me a sickeningly polite, unapologetic nod.
"I always make sure to secure the perimeter, Mrs. Vance," the traitorous agent replied.
Arthur stepped closer to me, looking down at my agonizing state with pure contempt.
"It is truly a shame you couldn't just play the role of the quiet, obedient wife," Arthur said smoothly.
"You could have lived a very comfortable, very hollow, very safe life."
He reached out and stroked his chin thoughtfully, admiring his own twisted victory.
"Now, I will take my rightful grandchild, and you will bleed out on this dirty floor."
I looked up at him through a blinding haze of pure physical pain.
A dark, unsettling, deeply confident smile crept slowly across my bloodstained lips.
Arthur frowned, clearly bothered by my complete lack of expected fear.
"Why in God's name are you smiling?" he demanded angrily.
"Because you are incredibly, stupidly arrogant, Arthur," I whispered softly.
"You simply assumed I only had one set of encrypted files."
I pointed a trembling, bloodied finger directly at Agent Mercer.
"Did you ever stop to wonder why a decorated federal agent was so easily bought?" I asked.
Arthur turned his head slowly to look at Mercer.
Mercer's expression remained entirely blank and unreadable.
"I didn't bribe him," Arthur stated with wavering confidence.
"I simply offered him triple his pathetic government pension."
I let out a weak, breathless, victorious laugh.
"He doesn't work for the FBI, Arthur," I finally revealed.
Mercer suddenly raised his tactical weapon and aimed it directly at Arthur's head.
"I work for the Department of Homeland Security," Mercer said coldly.
"And you just confessed to domestic terrorism on a live, heavily encrypted audio feed."
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Arthur’s face instantly drained of all its smug color.
Before anyone could react, a deafening gunshot suddenly shattered the tension in the room.
