Chapter 5: The Real Fight Begins
General Reynolds signaled with a single, sharp gesture. Two federal agents stepped forward, flanking Richard on either side. They didn't put him in handcuffs, but the implication was crystal clear: he wasn't going anywhere until the federal auditors finished reviewing his firm’s entire portfolio.
“Your firm has been flagged for fraudulent land acquisition across three states, Mr. Thorne,” Reynolds said smoothly. “The federal marshals have already seized your corporate accounts pending an investigation into systemic corruption and forgery of public records.”
Richard opened his mouth to protest, but the words caught in his throat. He looked at Thomas, seeing not a defeated veteran, but the architect of an ironclad defense that had been waiting for this exact trap to spring.
“Tell your bosses back in the city,” Thomas said, adjusting his collar, “that the desert remembers everything. And if they want this land, they’re going to have to explain to a federal grand jury why they tried to bulldoze a classified installation.”
Without another word, Richard was guided toward the back of one of the black SUVs. The doors clicked shut, and the convoy turned around, kicking up a final wall of dust as they sped back toward the highway, leaving the old gas station as silent and peaceful as it had been before the storm arrived.
Thomas stood by the vintage pump, watching the red taillights fade into the twilight. The dust settled over the empty road. He reached into his pocket, pulled out an old silver pocket watch, clicked it open, and smiled.
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The real fight against the corrupt empire back in the city was only just beginning—and for the first time in years, the wolves were the ones who were trapped.
If you had the backing of an entire lifetime of service and loyalty, how would you dismantle a corrupt corporate machine trying to take everything you built?
