Chapter 4 - The Lockdown
Sterling paused, his hand hovering two inches above his leather holster. He stared at the badge, then at Thorne’s pale, sweat-slicked face. The realization hit him like a physical blow, but instead of backing down, his eyes hardened into something far more dangerous.
He realized his life, his career, and his freedom were on the line.
“An IG agent,” Sterling muttered, a dark, twisted grin spreading across his face. He slowly pulled his hand away from his holster and stepped back toward the door, closing it with a heavy click. He flipped the deadbolt. “Three months you’ve been sneaking around my base like a rat.”
“The audit is complete, Sterling,” I said smoothly, packing the documents into my tactical pouch. “A federal convoy is already en route from Joint Base Lewis-McChord. You’re done.”
“Am I?” Sterling sneered. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small tactical radio. He clicked the side button. “All units, this is Red Leader. Code Black on Headquarters. Base is on full lockdown. No vehicles enter or leave. Jam all outgoing communications immediately.”
The radio crackled with affirmative responses from his loyal cadre of mercenary-style senior NCOs—men he had handpicked to run his black-market ring.
I narrowed my eyes. “You’re trying to lock down a US military base to hide your crimes?”
“I’m securing my perimeter,” Sterling said calmly, stepping behind his desk and pulling a heavy 9mm pistol from his drawer. He racked the slide with a sharp metallic clack. “Camp Vora is miles away from civilization, Colonel. The weather is terrible, the comms are down, and everyone on this base thinks you’re just a rogue recruit who attacked me. By the time JBLM realizes something is wrong, you will have had a tragic accident while attempting to escape custody.”
May you like
He pointed the barrel directly at my chest.
“Thorne,” Sterling ordered coldly. “Get the zip-ties. We’re taking the Colonel to the old ammo bunker by the ridge.”
