Chapter 14 - THE BROADCAST
The heavy steel vault door swung open with a hiss of released pneumatic pressure.
Inside lay a single rack containing a high-speed server blade connected to a satellite uplink unit and a small leather-bound folder labeled in faded black ink: PROPERTY OF DANIEL VANCE.
Clara reached inside, her hand brushing against a small digital flash drive protruding from the primary console board. Beside it, a blue button was illuminated beneath a clear glass protective cover. Above the button were two hand-written words on a strip of tape: PRESS TO BROADCAST.
Before Clara could touch the glass, the heavy iron reinforcement doors leading from the main bank corridor were violently blown inward with a deafening blast!
BOOM!
Concrete dust and iron fragments filled the air as three tactical officers in heavy body armor surged through the breach, their assault rifles leveled.
Behind them walked Captain Marcus Reyes, his uniform shirt stained with soot, his right cheek bleeding from a flying glass fragment, and his eyes wild with unhinged, predatory triumph.
"Step away from the vault, Clara!" Reyes barked, his voice echoing violently in the enclosed concrete space. "Do not move a muscle!"
Clara immediately pulled Lily behind her back, pressing her spine against the open vault door. She raised her snub-nosed revolver with both hands, aiming it squarely at Reyes’s chest.
"It’s over, Reyes!" Clara yelled, her voice shaking with rage. "We opened it! Daniel’s files are unlocked!"
Reyes chuckled—a dark, humorless sound that sent a chill down Clara’s spine. He raised his hand, signaling his tactical officers to hold their fire.
"You think a digital drive means anything in this town, Clara?" Reyes said, taking a slow, measured step forward. "Who are you going to give it to? The Mayor? He’s on my payroll. The District Attorney? Arthur Vance signed off on your arrest warrant two hours ago. The news channels won't air a word without my clearance."
He stretched out his gloved hand. "Give me the badge, and give me the drive. If you cooperate right now, I’ll make sure you spend your life in a comfortable mental institution instead of a shallow grave in the harbor."
Clara looked at Reyes’s cold eyes, then glanced back at the glowing blue button inside the vault behind her shoulder.
May you like
"Daniel knew you’d say that," Clara said softly.
With a sudden, explosive motion, Clara didn't pull the trigger on her revolver—she slammed her elbow backward through the glass cover, driving her palm down squarely onto the blue broadcast button!
