Chapter 4: The Surgical Strike
The raid on the administrative wing happened at dawn. Thorne led the team, not with guns drawn, but with the authority of a federal warrant. They bypassed the standard security desk, moving straight to Dr. Aris’s office.
Aris was packing a briefcase, his face pale as the FBI agents filled his room. He looked at Thorne, then at the folder in Thorne’s hand.
"This is an overreach," Aris began, trying to maintain his professional facade. "You have no jurisdiction—"
"I have the jurisdiction of a conspiracy that spans three states," Thorne interrupted, motioning for the agents to secure the computers. "We have Brenda’s testimony. We have the encrypted emails linking your 'security' contractors to the kidnapping ring. It’s over, Doctor."
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Aris lunged for a burner phone on his desk, hoping to send one last message, but Thorne was faster. He pinned the man to the mahogany desk, the steel of the handcuffs clicking into place.
The digital forensic team was already cloning the servers. They were pulling thousands of files—victim lists, payment stubs, transport logs. The entire network was being dismantled in real-time. The "Mercy" in Mercy General had been a lie, and for the first time in years, the truth was being dragged into the light.
