Chapter 7 – The Witness
Federal agents moved Damian Mercer before sunrise.
No press.
No public records.
No official itinerary.
Within hours, rumors spread that the disgraced CEO had vanished. Some claimed he had fled the country. Others insisted he had been secretly arrested. The truth was known by fewer than a dozen people.
Damian sat inside a secure interview room, staring at the untouched cup of coffee in front of him.
Across the table sat Special Agent Rebecca Collins.
"You understand this agreement only stands if you tell us everything."
Damian nodded.
"I do."
For the next six hours, he talked.
He described offshore accounts, shell corporations, bribed consultants, and encrypted communications. He admitted his own crimes without trying to soften them.
Finally, Collins asked the question everyone wanted answered.
"Who gave the orders?"
Damian swallowed.
"Victor Hale."
The room fell silent.
Meanwhile, Elena and Samuel watched from an adjacent observation room.
Samuel exhaled slowly.
"He's finally telling the truth."
Elena didn't celebrate.
Truth came too late for many people.
A technician hurried inside.
"We have a problem."
He placed a tablet on the table.
A security camera outside the federal building showed a delivery truck stopping briefly before driving away.
Seconds later another camera caught a man leaving a package near the employee entrance.
Rebecca Collins immediately ordered an evacuation.
The bomb squad arrived within minutes.
Fortunately, the package contained no explosives.
Only a single black envelope.
Inside was one sentence.
Tell Ms. Voss she's still one move behind.
No signature.
May you like
None was necessary.
Victor Hale had officially declared war.
