Chapter 19 - The Executioner
The front doors of the mansion were violently blown open, the sound of heavy boots echoing up the grand staircase.
Arthur laughed, a sick, wet sound that echoed in the ruined office.
"Put the book down and surrender, Sarah. They might make your deaths quick," he taunted.
I grabbed Arthur by the collar and hauled him roughly to his feet, using him as a human shield.
"They aren't going to shoot their own boss," I said, backing slowly toward the massive stone fireplace.
The heavily armed operators breached the office doors, their laser sights instantly painting the room in red dots.
But they did not yell for me to drop my weapons, and they did not advance.
Instead, the lead operator pulled off his tactical helmet, revealing a familiar, deeply scarred face.
It was Special Agent Marcus Thorne, a loyal investigator who had worshipped my father during his time at the academy.
I had secretly mailed him a heavily encrypted copy of the Erebus file three days ago, begging him to trace the dark money.
"Stand down, Director Vance," Marcus ordered coldly, pointing his assault rifle directly at Arthur's chest.
Arthur’s arrogant smile vanished instantly, replaced by sheer, terrifying panic as he realized the team was not his.
"Marcus, you are committing treason against the bureau!" Arthur screamed desperately.
"I am arresting a murderer who corrupted my agency," Marcus replied, gesturing for his men to move in.
The loyal FBI operators swarmed the room, ripping Arthur from my grip and slamming him into heavy steel handcuffs.
Arthur Vance, the untouchable ghost of the Erebus network, was finally dragged out of his fortress kicking and screaming like a coward.
Marcus walked over to me, looking at the black leather ledger clutched tightly in my hands.
"Is that the entire network?" he asked, his voice thick with profound respect.
"Every single name, every single dollar, and every single drop of blood," I answered, handing the heavy book over to him.
Marcus nodded solemnly, securing the ledger inside a locked, blast-proof tactical briefcase.
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"Your father would be incredibly proud of you today, Sarah," Marcus said softly.
I looked at my mother, who was staring out at the snowy mountains, a massive weight finally lifted from her shoulders.
