Chapter 15 - The Fortification of Blackthorn
Back at the estate, Conrad and Marcus stood over a sprawling tactical map spread across the heavy oak desk in the study. The sun had long since set, plunging the grounds into a heavy, moonless midnight.
“The federal wire confirms that Zurich is panicking,” Marcus said, tracing a finger along a printed network diagram. “They’ve pulled every remaining operative off commercial projects and redirected them toward our county. They aren't sending couriers this time. They’re sending a clean-up crew.”
Conrad didn't look up from the map. He was carefully cleaning the cylinder of his father’s revolver, the metallic clicks echoing rhythmically in the quiet room. “They think they can walk onto this property and erase the ledger the same way they erased my mother’s trust twenty years ago.”
“We’re outnumbered, Conrad,” Marcus warned, his voice laced with genuine urgency. “The local police are still tied up verifying the federal warrants, and the nearest tactical support unit is forty minutes away. If they hit the estate tonight, we’re entirely on our own.”
“Good,” Conrad said quietly, snapping the cylinder back into place with a definitive thud. “That means no paperwork. No bureaucratic delays. Just a final reckoning.”
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He walked over to the corner of the study where Elliot lay sleeping peacefully on the sofa, safe under a heavy wool blanket. Conrad gently brushed a lock of hair from his son’s forehead, kissed his temple, and turned back to Marcus.
“Get the perimeter alarms synced to the backup generator,” Conrad ordered. “And make sure the south gate is unlocked. Let them think they found an open door.”
