Chapter 7 - The Undercover Operative
I stared down at the heavy black weapon resting in my trembling hands.
The agent calmly removed his FBI badge and tossed it into the elevator trash can.
"I am not with the FBI, Mrs. O'Connell," the man said in a low, serious voice.
"I am an undercover operative for the Department of Homeland Security."
He explained that his task force had been investigating Barrett's logistics company for the past two years.
They knew Barrett was not just laundering money, but actively smuggling illegal military-grade weapons across the border.
"We know you are completely innocent, but we needed Barrett to believe he had won," the operative explained.
"We need your help to bait him into a full, recorded confession right now."
He handed me a tiny, state-of-the-art earpiece and a microscopic lapel camera.
We quietly snuck back up to the third floor using a highly secure, restricted service staircase.
The operative led me into a dark, hidden observation booth located directly behind the judge's bench.
I could see the entire courtroom perfectly through the thick, two-way mirror.
The judge and the gallery had completely cleared out.
Only Barrett, Paige, and Douglas remained in the massive room, celebrating their flawless victory.
Barrett happily popped the cork on a smuggled bottle of expensive champagne.
He poured three glasses and excitedly handed one to his beautiful mistress.
"To our new empire, my love," Barrett cheered, clinking his glass against hers.
Paige smiled greedily and took a massive, eager gulp of the sparkling wine.
May you like
Five seconds later, her beautiful smile violently twisted into a mask of pure agony.
She dropped the glass, clutching her throat as thick, white foam bubbled out of her mouth.
