Chapter 16 - Whispers in the Federal Ward
Terre Haute prison was awakened by a piercing siren at two o'clock in the morning.
Dominic Davenport was ripped from his cot by two guards who wore no name tags on their tactical vests.
"What is happening?" Dominic shouted as plastic zip-ties were bound tightly around his wrists.
"I have a right to an attorney!"
"Shut your mouth, inmate," a gruff voice commanded.
He was dragged down the sterile, fluorescent corridors toward the administrative transfer wing.
The heavy security gates opened without a single word from the control room.
Dominic’s heart beat wildly against his ribs.
He had heard rumors of targeted prisoners disappearing during midnight transport runs.
He was thrown into an interrogation room deep within the basement facility.
Sitting at the metal table was not Bradley Vance, but Julian Vance himself.
Julian was sipping black coffee from a paper cup, wearing a dark cashmere overcoat.
"Good evening, Dominic," Julian remarked casually.
"You look terrible."
"Julian?" Dominic gasped, falling to his knees on the concrete floor.
"What are you doing here?"
"This is a federal penitentiary!"
"A federal penitentiary funded largely through municipal security contracts owned by my subsidiaries," Julian corrected him.
"To the world, you are currently being moved to solitary confinement due to an alleged contraband investigation."
Julian set his coffee down and leaned forward.
"My sister Helena is retrieving the flash drives from your pathetic little mistress."
"Which means your utility as a holder of leverage has officially expired."
Dominic’s face drained of what little color it had left.
"You promised Bradley would file an appeal!"
"You said you would get me out!"
"I said you could walk out of those gates in eighteen months," Julian chuckled softly.
"I never said which gates, or in what condition."
"However, I am feeling generous tonight."
Julian pulled a fountain pen and a single legal sheet from his coat.
"Sign this affidavit."
"State under oath that Evelyn Mercer coerced you into forging maritime records."
"State that she ordered you to falsify the Mercer port expansion books to conceal her father’s bankrupt shell companies."
Dominic stared at the document, his breath trembling.
"That’s perjury."
"It’s treason against the state maritime compact."
"She will be arrested by federal marshals before breakfast."
"That is the entire point," Julian smiled warmly.
"Sign it, Dominic."
"And you will be transferred to a minimum-security resort in Florida by tomorrow afternoon."
"Refuse, and the guards outside will leave your cell door unlocked during the morning yard walk."
Dominic looked down at the pen on the table.
The memory of Evelyn standing in the penthouse, watching him with cold, unbroken eyes, flashed through his mind.
He had always hated her quiet dignity.
May you like
He had always despised how small she made him feel without ever raising her voice.
With a trembling, malicious grin, Dominic reached for the pen.
