Chapter 9 - The House of Cards
On the main screens in the ballroom, Dominic Sterling’s face appeared, accompanied by the Sterling Holdings logo.
"The grand finale," Evelyn broadcasted to the remaining, terrified elite. "Dominic Sterling. The man who orchestrated the Vanguard Society for ten years."
Files began flooding the screens. Emails outlining the assassination of a union leader in Detroit. Audio recordings of Dominic bribing federal regulators to ignore toxic emissions in low-income neighborhoods. Bank transfers funding private militia groups in South America.
It was an avalanche of irrefutable, damning evidence.
"Every file has just been securely transmitted to the FBI, Interpol, and every major news network globally," Evelyn announced. "There is no bribe large enough to hide this. There is no lawyer skilled enough to defend it."
In the vault, Dominic watched his life completely disintegrate. His breathing became shallow. The sheer magnitude of his ruin crushed him physically. He slumped against the wall, dropping the knife.
"It's over," Evelyn said softly.
She pressed the master override button on her tablet.
Clank. Hiss.
The heavy steel shutters over the main exits of the ballroom slowly began to rise. Fresh air rushed into the suffocating hall.
May you like
The sound of police sirens—dozens of them—could already be heard wailing in the distance, growing louder by the second. The automated emails had done their job. The authorities were descending on the Vanguard Society.
"The doors are open," Evelyn broadcasted one final time. "Run if you want. But the world already knows who you are."
