Chapter 16 - The Secret Of The Sterling Bloodline
Sarah kept her firearm raised and centered on Julian Vance’s chest, her flashlight beam cutting through the shadows.
“Step away from the sarcophagus, Julian,” Sarah commanded, her voice steady and echoing off the vaulted stone ceiling.
“The Austrian federal police have this sector surrounded.”
Julian chuckled softly, making no move toward a weapon, keeping his gloved hands clasped behind his back.
“The Austrian police don't have authority inside these sovereign church vaults, Sarah,” Julian said smoothly.
“And you won't shoot me once you see what lies inside this stone casket.”
Julian reached out, using a heavy iron crowbar to lever open the stone lid of the ancient sarcophagus.
Inside, resting on a bed of faded velvet, was not human remains, but four heavy steel lockboxes bearing the official seal of the United States Treasury, dated 1944.
“Your grandfather didn't just build a logistics company after World War II, Sarah,” Julian revealed, his eyes glittering in the lantern light.
“He and my father recovered eighty metric tons of European gold reserves during the liberation of Germany.”
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“The Vance family and the Sterling family were never corporate rivals; we were partners in the largest covert wealth repository in modern history.”
Sarah stared at the treasury seals, her mind reeling as a century of family secrets began to unravel in the freezing darkness of the catacomb.
