Chapter 8 - EXPOSING THE EMPIRE
By sunrise, the Vale estate was cordoned off with miles of yellow police tape.
Dozens of state trooper vehicles, FBI vans, and ambulances lined our long driveway. The story had completely broken the internet. News helicopters hovered overhead, broadcasting live footage of private mercenaries being led out of my home in handcuffs.
Dr. Victor Sterling was taken away in an ambulance under federal custody, facing charges of attempted kidnapping, corporate espionage, and illegal human experimentation.
Inside my study, three high-ranking FBI agents sat across from me and Vance. Noah was resting upstairs under the strict care of a trusted private nurse, with Claire, Leo, and Lila by his side.
"Mr. Vale," Special Agent Ramirez said, placing a thick dossier on my desk. "What we found in the server drives taken from Aegis’s regional office confirms everything the boy told you. Aegis has been operating an illegal black-budget research facility in the northern mountains for over six years."
I leaned forward, my hands folded on the desk. "How many children were in that facility?"
Ramirez hesitated, looking at his partner before answering. "Noah was the only survivor of Project Lazarus. The others... their bodies couldn't handle the bio-electric transfers. They died years ago. Aegis covered it up using fake adoption records and falsified death certificates."
A cold rage burned deep in my chest. "I want Aegis wiped off the face of the earth, Ramirez. I want every board member, every doctor, and every investor in handcuffs by the end of the week."
"We're working on it, Mr. Vale," Ramirez said softly. "But there's a complication. The state child welfare agency has just issued an order. Because Noah is a key witness in a federal human-trafficking case, they are requiring him to be placed in a secure state protective facility until the trial."
"Over my dead body," I snapped, standing up. "I filed adoption papers last night."
Vance stepped in, placing a calming hand on my shoulder. "Agent Ramirez, my client has the financial resources to provide higher security than any state facility. Furthermore, the boy has suffered severe psychological trauma. Moving him now will destroy his mental state."
"It's not just about security, Vance," Ramirez said grimly. "The state medical board wants to examine him. The video of him healing Mr. Vale's twins has two hundred million views online. Medical institutions across the globe are demanding access to the boy. They want to know how his body violates the laws of modern science."
"He is a child, not a lab rat!" I slammed my hand onto the desk, rattling the coffee cups. "He saved my children's lives! He isn't going to another facility, and no one is touching him with a needle ever again!"
Ramirez sighed heavily. "Then you have forty-eight hours, Mr. Vale. If you can't get a federal judge to sign a permanent custody order before Friday, state social services will come with federal marshals to take him into custody."
When the agents left, I walked up to the master bedroom.
Noah was sitting on the edge of the bed. Leo and Lila were showing him how to play a game on an iPad. For the first time since I had met him, I saw a tiny, hesitant smile on Noah’s face as Lila made a silly sound.
My heart melted. Two days ago, I was a bitter, broken man who only cared about his empire and his grief. Now, looking at these three children, I realized what truly mattered.
Claire walked over to me, wrapping her arms around my waist. "Did you hear what the agents said?"
"Yeah," I murmured, watching Noah laugh quietly. "They want to turn him into a science experiment again. The whole world wants a piece of him."
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"We can't let them take him, Richard," Claire whispered, her eyes shining with tears. "He gave us our family back. Now we have to give him his."
"I have a plan," I said, a dangerous idea taking root in my mind. "If the world wants to see a miracle... then I'm going to give them one they'll never forget."
