Chapter 66 - The Cumberland Breach
The document glowing on my screen was an unauthorized municipal annexation order, signed by none other than Mayor Richard Sterling-Hayes—Lord William’s estranged younger brother, who had operated under an assumed political surname in Tennessee politics for twenty-five years.
"Your brother was the mayor?" David demanded, stepping over to Lord William with fury blazing in his eyes. "The man who oversaw the zoning of the Cumberland port expansion was your inside operative all along?"
Lord William smiled weakly, regaining a sliver of his arrogant composure. "Did you truly believe Arthur could hold this territory without a shadow protector in city hall? Richard was sent here decades ago to ensure the Vance estate remained intact until the time was right for David's reclamation. But Richard got greedy. He wanted the Vance freight routes for himself, to build a direct pipeline to the Gulf of Mexico."
"That's why Eleanor was so desperate to execute the merger at the wedding," I realized aloud. "She wasn't taking orders from you, William. She was taking orders from Richard!"
Before William could answer, the heavy steel gate behind us shuddered violently. A blinding white flame erupted around the edges of the lock mechanism—the mercenaries had deployed military-grade magnesium cutters. The heat was immense, warping the steel within seconds.
"They're cutting through!" Frank yelled, racking the bolt of his rifle. "We can't stay on these tracks. If they detonate a fuel line in this enclosed tunnel, the entire sector will cave in!"
"Get the switch engine moving toward the Cumberland main line!" David commanded. "Sarah, get Lord William into the cab. We run the train through the river portal and link up with Miller’s federal perimeter at Track Seven!"
The diesel engine roared to life with a deafening growl, steel wheels grinding against the rusted subterranean rails. Just as the train began to surge forward, the heavy blast gate gave way with a deafening screech of rending metal. Three armed operatives burst through the smoke, their weapons spitting fire into the dark corridor.
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David climbed onto the rear platform, returning fire with lethal precision, holding off the attackers as the engine gained speed, hurtling toward the light at the end of the Cumberland tunnel.
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