Chapter 12 - The Race Against the Clock
The digital countdown timer on my phone screen ticked down mercilessly.
Eleven hours and fifty-four minutes.
The video feed of Emily’s secure hospital room updated in real-time. The two armed operatives stood like statues of death in the corners of the sterile room, their silenced weapons trained steadily toward the bed where my daughter slept under heavy sedation.
“Martin!” I roared, sprinting toward the lead federal vehicle where Special Agent Martin was supervising the secure server loading.
Martin turned around, startled by the sheer panic in my voice. “Colonel, what is it? The transport convoy is ready to roll—.”
I shoved the glowing screen of my phone directly into his face.
Color drained completely from Martin’s cheeks. “A live stream? How did they breach a federal-grade military hospital safehouse? That location was classified at the highest clearance level!”
“It means The Meridian Group has compromised our internal command network from the inside,” I said, my voice dropping into a lethal, steady register that brooked no argument. “They have moles planted deep within the Department of Justice and the federal security apparatus. Every move we make is being tracked.”
“If we deploy a standard tactical strike team to retake the hospital, their handlers will detonate the hit before our units even cross the threshold,” Martin whispered, his hands trembling slightly as he stared at the countdown. “What do you want to do, Colonel? Give them the card?”
“Never,” I replied, my eyes hardening into absolute steel. “If we hand over that micro SD card, thousands of corrupt officials and black-ops mercenaries walk free, and my daughter becomes a loose end they’ll silence anyway. We don't negotiate with domestic terrorists—even when they wear three-piece suits and federal badges.”
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“Then what’s our play?”
“We use their arrogance against them,” I said, pulling my service weapon from its holster and checking the magazine. “They want the card? I’ll deliver it personally. But I’m bringing my own terms.”
