Chapter 7 - Unraveling
The sirens were not local police.
A fleet of black federal SUVs, flanked by State Trooper escorts and military police transport vehicles, tore through the front gates of the Prescott estate, tearing up the pristine lawns.
Agent Marcus Vance pushed through the shattered doors of the library, flanked by federal agents wearing tactical jackets marked DOJ and DLA-IG.
Behind them walked General Thomas Bradley—the head of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and a non-corrupt four-star general who served directly on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
General Bradley surveyed the ruined library, his eyes landing on me, then on Richard Prescott, who sat broken in his armchair.
"Colonel Hart," General Bradley said, offering a crisp military salute. "We received your encrypted transmission. The evidence you unlocked from this token contains irrefutable proof of high treason, illegal arms trafficking, and conspiracy to commit murder."
"General Bradley!" Richard choked out, trying to push himself up. "This is an outrage! I demand to speak to General Pemberton immediately!"
General Bradley looked down at Richard with cold disdain. "General Vance-Pemberton was taken into custody at the Pentagon thirty minutes ago, Mr. Prescott. He is currently being held in a brig at Fort Meade facing court-martial under the Uniform Code of Military Justice."
Catherine gasped, burying her face in her hands. Daniel slumped against the wall, weeping openly like a child.
Federal agents stepped forward, slapping heavy steel handcuffs onto Richard, Daniel, and Catherine Prescott.
"Richard Prescott, Catherine Prescott, Daniel Prescott," Agent Vance read from an arrest document. "You are under federal custody for racketeering, conspiracy, illegal arms distribution, and obstruction of justice."
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As Daniel was dragged past me, he looked up with hollow, terrified eyes. "Victoria... please... tell Emily I'm sorry... I was just doing what my father told me..."
I looked at him with uncompromising disgust. "You don't apologize to me, Daniel. You spend the rest of your life answering to a federal judge."
