Chapter 12 - THE MIDNIGHT TRANSFERBy midnight, a convoy of unmarked federal vehicles surrounded the Cuyahoga County Correctional Facility.
Julian Sterling sat in a cold, fluorescent-lit holding cell, shivering in his orange jumpsuit. His polished corporate charm had completely vanished; his hair was messy, and dark circles bruised the skin beneath his frantic hazel eyes.
The heavy steel door of his cell clanged open.
Two men in tactical gear with Federal Marshals patches walked in. But something was wrong. Their badges didn't catch the light quite right, and neither of them spoke a word as they grabbed Julian by the shoulders.
"W-what are you doing?" Julian stammered, trying to pull back. "My trial isn't for another month! Where are you taking me?"
"Orders from the top, Mr. Sterling," one of the guards muttered through a muffled voice. "Time to change locations."
They hauled him down the dimly lit concrete corridor toward the subterranean service loading bay. Julian’s heart hammered against his ribs as he realized this wasn't a legal transfer. This was an execution disguised as an escape attempt.
As they pushed him toward an idling black van with tinted windows, the heavy security doors at the end of the tunnel suddenly exploded outward in a blinding flash of red and blue light.
"FEDERAL AGENTS! DROP YOUR WEAPONS!"
Detective Thomas Vance stepped out from behind a tactical shield, his service weapon leveled squarely at the fake marshals.
Chaos erupted. The two corrupt operatives scrambled for their sidearms, but a barrage of non-lethal flash-bangs and precision tactical fire pinned them to the concrete floor within seconds.
Julian fell to his knees, covering his head as smoke filled the loading bay.
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Vance walked up, grabbed Julian by the collar of his orange jumpsuit, and hauled him upright.
"Looking for a way out, Julian?" Vance asked with a grim smile, staring down at the terrified man. "Your friends in D.C. just tried to check you out permanently."
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