Chapter 13 - The Encrypted Key and the Betrayal in the VIP Lounge
The air inside the VIP lounge grew suffocatingly tense,
the joyful classical music from the ballroom below feeling distant and surreal.
Mercer set his glass down on the table with a quiet,
deliberate click.
"You are a very resourceful woman,
Captain,"
Mercer said,
his voice devoid of all warmth,
revealing the ruthless killer hidden beneath his expensive suit.
"Just like your father.
Arthur was stubborn,
too.
He thought he could protect Cross Meridian Systems from the reality of global defense commerce."
"My father built technology to protect soldiers,
Julian,"
I said,
taking a step closer to him.
"You tried to sell those defense codes to foreign syndicates for personal profit."
Deputy Secretary Harrington stood up hastily,
his hands shaking as he adjusted his tuxedo jacket.
"I...
I have no part in this,"
Harrington stammered out frantically,
backing away from Mercer.
"Julian,
you assured me that Cross Meridian's assets were legally acquired through Ryan's power of attorney!"
Mercer did not even look at Harrington.
"Sit down,
Robert,"
Mercer commanded coldly.
"You took five million dollars into your offshore account last month to clear our defense export licenses.
You are in this until the very end."
Harrington sank back into his chair,
his face completely pale,
realizing he was trapped in Mercer's web of corruption.
Suddenly,
a soft vibration hummed in my hidden earpiece,
and Ethan's voice crackled through the static.
"Claire,
we have a problem,"
Ethan reported urgently.
"Mercer's private security team downstairs just received a signal.
They are locking down the hotel exits and cutting the main power grid.
They realize they have been exposed!"
Before I could react,
the grand crystal chandeliers overhead flickered violently and died,
plunging the massive hotel into pitch-black darkness.
Screams of terror and confusion instantly erupted from the ballroom below as hundreds of guests panicked.
In the darkness,
I heard the distinct sound of a leather holster unsnapping right in front of me.
My combat training took over instantly.
I dropped low to the floor,
sweeping my right leg outward in a sweeping kick.
My foot connected solidly with Mercer's legs,
knocking him off balance and sending his handgun clattering across the carpeted floor.
"Harrington,
get down!"
I shouted through the dark as muzzle flashes suddenly illuminated the far side of the lounge.
Mercer's armored guards opened fire into the doorway,
their suppressed weapons spitting quiet sparks into the shadows.
I pulled my silenced pistol from my holster,
firing three precise rounds toward the flash points,
dropping the first guard instantly.
"Claire!"
Ethan's voice roared through the darkness as he burst through the side service entrance,
his tactical flashlight blinding the remaining mercenary.
Ethan fired two double-taps,
neutralizing the threat in less than three seconds.
The strobe beam of Ethan's flashlight swept across the VIP lounge,
illuminating the empty chair where Mercer had been sitting just seconds ago.
A hidden emergency exit door behind the lounge bar was swinging open,
creaking softly in the dark.
"Mercer is running!"
May you like
I called out,
scrambling to my feet and charging toward the open service exit.
