Chapter 3 - The Setup
"What are you talking about?" Ethan took a step toward Julian, his fists clenching.
Before Julian could answer, the lights inside Suite 1404 flickered and cut out completely. The emergency red backup lights hummed to life, casting long, blood-red shadows across the room.
CLANG.
The heavy metal blast doors at the end of the 14th-floor hallway slammed shut automatically, locking Ethan, his two federal auditors, and Julian inside the corridor.
From the ceiling speakers, a smooth, refined voice echoed throughout the room. It was Lord Arthur Sterling.
"Good evening, Agent Vance," Arthur’s voice sounded crisp and utterly unbothered. "Or should I say, former Agent Vance?"
Ethan pulled out his radio. "Team B, this is Vance. We have a containment breach on Floor 14. Blow the doors!"
Static screamed through the speaker. “Agent Vance... Team B is down. The hotel security forces just disarmed us. They have the perimeter locked.”
Ethan looked at the security monitors. The federal agents he had brought with him were being handcuffed in the lobby by men dressed not in hotel uniforms, but in unmarked tactical gear.
"You brought a briefcase full of accusations into my house, Ethan," Lord Arthur's voice continued smoothly over the intercom. "Did you really think an anonymous tip brought you here by accident? The whistleblower was me."
Ethan’s mind raced. "Why would you report your own hotel?"
"Because the IHSA has been digging into my offshore accounts for months," Arthur replied with a cold laugh. "I needed a high-ranking agent inside my facility, isolated, with a briefcase filled with 'classified documents'—and a gun with your fingerprints on it."
Ethan quickly reached into his inner suit pocket. His service weapon was gone. He looked over at Julian, who was still on his knees, holding Ethan's firearm in his hand, trembling violently.
"I'm sorry, Ethan," Julian whispered, tears streaming down his face as he pointed the gun at Ethan. "He told me if I didn't frame you, he'd put me in prison for the surveillance operation. I have a family..."
"Julian, don't do this," Ethan said calmly, taking a slow step forward. "He's using you as a fall guy. If I die here, who do you think takes the blame?"
"He promised me immunity!" Julian screamed.
"He lied to you!" Ethan snapped. "Look at the desk monitor!"
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Julian hesitated, his eyes darting toward the screen. The monitor was displaying a live feed of the local news. The headlines were already scrolling at the bottom of the screen:
BREAKING NEWS: CORRUPT IHSA AGENT ETHAN VANCE TAKES HOSTAGES AT GRAND SOVEREIGN HOTEL IN ATTEMPTED EXTORTION SCHEME.
