Chapter 6 - Unshackled and Unstoppable
stood up slowly, rubbing my wrists where the metal cuffs had left deep red marks. I
adjusted the collar of my black dress shirt, brushing the dust from my shoulders with a calm,
deliberate movement. The bleeding on my lip had stopped, leaving a small, metallic taste in my
mouth, but my posture was as straight and unyielding as a steel beam. I looked down at Frank, who
was still pinned to the floor, hyperventilating in sheer panic.
"General Voss," the lead Marshal said, saluting me with absolute respect. "I am Special Agent
Miller, United States Marshals Service. We received a level-one distress signal from the Pentagon. Are
you injured, ma'am?"
"I am fine, Agent Miller," I replied, returning his salute with a crisp, professional movement.
"Thank you for the prompt response. Your team’s tactical arrival was exemplary."
"My pleasure, General," Miller said, looking down at Frank with a mixture of disgust and
disbelief. "What do you want us to do with this individual? He has violated multiple federal statutes,
including assault on a federal officer, interference with classified communications, and armed threat
against a military official."
I walked over to the kitchen counter, picked up my satellite phone, which had survived the fall,
and wiped the dust off the screen. The connection was still active. I held it to my ear. "General Vance.
The situation is under control. The hostile domestic actor has been neutralized."
"Copy that, General Voss," the voice on the other end replied, a noticeable tone of relief in his
voice. "We have the Department of Justice on the line. We are preparing the necessary paperwork to
transfer jurisdiction of this officer to the federal district court. We will not tolerate this level of
disrespect toward our high command."
I set the phone down and looked at Frank. His eyes were wide with terror, his face pale as he
looked up at me. He had spent his entire life believing he was untouchable because of his local badge,
but he had just realized that his badge meant absolutely nothing in the face of the federal
government. "Maya... please," he whispered, his voice cracking. "I didn't know... I thought you were
May you like
just lying... I didn't mean to..."
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