Chapter 7 - The Ransom Demand
Evelyn's voice crackled through the phone's speaker, dripping with pure malice and mocking triumph.
She coldly ordered me to bring the USB drive to the abandoned shipping shipyards on the industrial edge of town.
If I called the police or brought anyone with me, she promised to throw Toby into the freezing ocean.
I hung up the phone, my hands shaking violently as absolute, protective rage completely consumed my fear.
I drove my car toward the docks, the dark, stormy sky perfectly matching the violent storm brewing inside my mind.
I absolutely refused to be a helpless victim waiting to be slaughtered by the monster who ruined my family.
I pulled my car into a hidden, narrow alley a few blocks away from the designated meeting point.
I activated a secure, encrypted live-streaming application on my phone and pinned the device inside my breast pocket.
The camera lens was perfectly positioned to broadcast everything directly to the FBI's public federal tip portal.
I walked into the dark, rusting warehouse where Evelyn was patiently waiting for my arrival.
She was standing dangerously near the edge of a deep loading dock, holding a terrified Toby by his little jacket.
Five heavily armed thugs stood in a protective, professional circle around her, their laser sights trained on my chest.
I held up the USB drive in the dim light and demanded she let my innocent grandson go immediately.
Evelyn laughed, boasting loudly about how she poisoned Genevieve, stole my money, and manipulated my entire life.
Her full, unedited confession was broadcasted perfectly to the federal authorities in absolute real-time.
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Then, she smiled wickedly, pulled a small electronic device from her pocket, and pressed a red button.
My phone sparked violently in my pocket, completely dead from a targeted, short-range EMP blast.
