Chapter 9 - The Dawn of Reckoning
The lobby of St. Jude Hospital was dead silent except for the heated argument near the pediatric security doors. Julian Vance stood flanked by a smooth-talking attorney in an expensive trench coat and a nervous deputy sheriff holding an official custody paper. Standing in front of the double doors, arms crossed, were Renata Cole and three burly hospital security officers.
"You are obstructing a court order, nurse," Vance's attorney sneered, holding up the signed document. "If you do not step aside immediately, you will be arrested for felony kidnapping."
"I'd like to see you try," Renata said calmly, her eyes flashing with defiance.
The glass entrance doors slid open with a sharp hiss. The wet, heavy boots of Nathaniel Reyes, Clara Vance, and Marcus's tactical team echoed across the marble floor. Vance spun around, his mouth opening in shock as he saw Nathaniel walking side-by-side with Clara, both drenched in rain but unbowed.
"Impossible..." Vance whispered, stepping back.
"It's over, Julian," Nathaniel said, stepping into the center of the lobby. He gestured to Marcus, who connected a tablet to the hospital lobby's central digital display screen. In seconds, the screen flickered, displaying hundreds of encrypted documents, offshore bank transactions, illegal human trial records, and audio recordings of Vance giving orders to liquidate the lab.
"That flash drive," Clara said clearly, her voice echoing off the walls, "contains every order Vance ever signed. It's already been broadcast to the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the Securities and Exchange Commission."
The deputy sheriff glanced down at his custody warrant, then looked at the screen displaying Vance's federal indictment files. Without saying a word, the deputy stepped away from Vance, putting his hand on his handcuffs.
"Julian Vance," a booming voice called out from the main entrance. Four federal agents stepped through the doors, led by the regional director of the FBI. "You are under arrest for extortion, illegal human experimentation, corporate fraud, and attempted murder."
Vance looked around frantically, realizing that every avenue of escape had been sealed. The guards he brought had already retreated. As the federal agents snapped handcuffs onto Vance's wrists, Vance glared at Nathaniel with pure venom. "You think you've won, Reyes? You've destroyed your own career! You missed your board call! Apex will strip you of your title!"
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Nathaniel picked up his phone, showing the screen to Vance. On the display was an emergency text from the Chairman of the Board of Apex Healthcare: 'We saw the federal broadcast. Vance Life Sciences is collapsing. Board unanimously voted to appoint you chairman of the combined healthcare initiative. Congratulations, Nathaniel.'
"I didn't miss the call, Julian," Nathaniel said softly as the agents dragged Vance away into the night. "I just changed the agenda."
