Chapter 5 - The War Room at the PentagonBack in Washington D.C., deep within the secured administrative corridors of the Pentagon, a very different kind of operation was underway.
Colonel James Bennett was not just a decorated infantry commander; he was a strategic logistics expert with friends in high places across federal intelligence and legal oversight committees.
Seated around a polished mahogany conference table were three civilian attorneys specializing in corporate fraud, civil rights violations, and international asset forfeiture.
"The local charges for domestic abuse and unlawful imprisonment are locked in," lead attorney Sarah Chen stated, sliding a fresh brief across the table. "Bail has been denied for both Ryan and Linda due to clear flight risk and severity of the offenses. But Colonel, if you want to completely dismantle their corporate empire, we need to strike at their funding source: Sterling Global Logistics."
James stood up, walking over to the large wall monitor displaying a complex web of corporate shell companies owned by Ryan and Linda.
"Dismantle it," James commanded quietly. "Every asset, every stock option, every offshore account, every luxury vehicle, and every piece of real estate they own. I want them bankrupt before the sun sets on Friday."
"Understood, sir," Chen nodded, typing furiously on her tablet. "Also, we’ve uncovered something interesting regarding Ryan’s company accounts. He’s been funneling corporate funds into personal investments to hide assets from Emily prior to the planned institutionalization. That constitutes wire fraud and grand larceny at the federal level. We can add another ten years to his sentence."
May you like
James turned back to the window, watching the distant lights of the national monuments piercing the twilight sky. For months, his daughter had suffered in silence, believing she was entirely alone in the world. She had protected him from the truth because she didn't want to worry her aging father.
Never again, James swore to himself. The men who built that cage are going to find out what it means to face a real military siege.
