Chapter 13 - Unraveling the Web
By 6:00 a.m. the following morning, the sun began to break over the city skyline, casting a warm golden light through the high windows of St. Jude’s Hospital.
The breaking news broadcast played silently on the wall-mounted television in the private recovery suite:
BREAKING NEWS: VANGUARD BIO-TECH CEO ARRESTED IN FEDERAL CORRUPTION AND ATTEMPTED MURDER SCHEME. OVER 20 EXECUTIVES INDICTED.
I sat in a comfortable armchair beside two hospital beds that had been placed side by side in the spacious room.
In the bed on the right, Chloe was propped up on three pillows, happily munching on a tray of buttered toast and apple juice, her cheeks full of color once again.
In the bed on the left, Daniel was awake.
He was still weak, an oxygen nasal cannula beneath his nose, but his clear blue eyes were open, staring at me with profound love, gratitude, and awe.
He reached his hand out across the small gap between the beds. I took it immediately, lacing my fingers tightly through his.
"Marcus told me everything that happened, Evie," Daniel whispered, his voice raspy and choked with emotion. "The bridge... the sub-basement... the roof..."
"Don't worry about that now," I said gently, leaning down to press a soft kiss against his forehead. "You're safe. We're all safe."
"You saved my life," Daniel said, tears welling in his eyes. "I was supposed to protect you and Chloe... and I brought those monsters straight to our door."
"Daddy, Mommy was like a superhero!" Chloe piped up from her bed, her mouth full of toast. "The police officer told me she climbed up a ladder in a giant storm and beat the bad guy!"
Daniel smiled warmly, a weak chuckle escaping his chest. "Your mother has always been a superhero, Chloe. I was just too blind to see how tough she really is."
The door to the room opened quietly, and Detective Carter walked in, wearing a clean suit with his arm supported in a black sling.
"Morning, family," Carter said, walking over with a small manila folder.
"Detective," Daniel said, trying to sit up. "Thank you... for everything."
"Don't thank me, Daniel. Thank your wife. If she hadn't broken into a private military-grade facility, you wouldn't be breathing right now," Carter smiled. He laid the folder on Daniel’s bedside table. "The District Attorney just finalized the charges. Julian Vance, Dr. Vance, and Victor Cole are being held without bail on federal racketeering, attempted murder, and bio-chemical weapons charges. They are looking at life sentences without parole."
"What about Marcus?" I asked.
"Marcus Reed accepted a full immunity deal from the Department of Justice in exchange for state testimony," Carter replied. "He's in witness protection, but he asked me to give you this."
Carter pulled a small sealed envelope from his pocket and handed it to me.
I opened it. Inside was a hand-written note from Marcus, along with a certified bank check made out to Daniel and me.
The note read:
Evelyn & Daniel,
Vanguard’s board of directors just voted to liquidate Vance’s assets to establish a victim relief fund. This check represents your full whistle-blower reward compensation authorized by the federal court. You never have to worry about a budget meeting or a mortgage again. Take care of your beautiful family.
— Marcus
I looked at the number written on the check.
$12,500,000.
May you like
I stared at the paper in total disbelief, then looked over at Daniel, who was shaking his head with a breathless laugh.
"Well," Daniel whispered, squeezing my hand tightly. "I guess you can finally quit that office job with the cold coffee."
