Chapter 17 - THE CAPITOL TOWER|
At 6:30 AM, the sun began to rise over the State Capitol, casting long golden light across the grand marble steps of the Governor’s mansion.
A black limousine pulled up to the private VIP entrance at the rear of the building.
I stepped out of the vehicle, supported by two heavy wooden crutches I had stolen from a beach locker room. My face was pale, my clothes were torn, but my head was held high.
Two armed security guards flanked me immediately, searching my pockets before escorting me up the private elevator to the top floor.
The doors chimed open to reveal the Governor’s penthouse office.
Victor Vance sat behind a massive mahogany desk, overlooking the city skyline. Sitting on a leather sofa in the corner was my Uncle Richard, looking visibly aged, trembling as he held a glass of whiskey.
Standing bound and gagged next to two guards was my sister, Clara. Tears streamed down her cheeks when she saw me hobble into the room.
"Hannah!" Clara muffled behind the heavy duct tape over her mouth.
"Let her go, Victor," I said, dropping the heavy waterproof laptop bag onto the mahogany desk. "You have the drive. Let my family leave."
Victor smiled, standing up from his desk and running his fingers over the sleek black laptop.
"Always the protective big sister," Victor mocked, opening the laptop lid. "Richard, look at her. Even broken, she still thinks she can dictate terms to us."
May you like
Uncle Richard didn't look up. He stared at his glass, his voice hollow. "I’m sorry, Hannah... I had no choice. Erebus owned my debt..."
"Shut up, Richard," Victor snapped, typing in his master override code into the laptop screen. "Now, let’s see if my dear cousin delivered the authentic ledger."
