Chapter 21 - THE DRAW ON A RAZOR'S EDGE

The standoff hung by a microscopic thread.

The heat radiating from the thermite incinerator washed over our faces, shimmering in the narrow corridor. One twitch of Albright’s fingers, and the single piece of evidence that could expose the greatest act of treason in modern American history would vanish into ash.

"You won't drop it," I said softly, lowering my weapon by an inch.

Albright sneered. "Try me, Commander. You military boys are so predictable—sworn to the mission, paralyzed by collateral damage."

"I'm not paralyzed, Vance," I said, taking a deliberate step forward. "Because you're a narcissist. You didn't stay behind to burn that disc. You stayed behind to save it because it's your only leverage against your foreign handlers when this empire collapses. If that disc burns, you have nothing to trade to keep yourself out of a black site for the rest of your natural life."

Albright’s smirk wavered. Just a fraction of a millimeter. A flicker of doubt crossed his gray eyes.

That was all Kane needed.

Kane fired a non-lethal conductive shock dart directly into Albright’s forearm.

Five thousand volts pulsed through the Deputy Secretary’s nervous system. His muscles locked instantly in violent spasm. The optical disc slipped from his paralyzed fingers—falling directly toward the blazing mouth of the furnace.

I lunged forward.

My boots slid across the oily floor as I threw myself horizontally, my left hand snapping out through the blistering heat above the incinerator rim. The searing temperature scorched the flesh of my palm, blistering the skin instantly, but my fingers closed around the cold poly-carbonate edge of the disc just inches above the liquid fire.

I tumbled hard onto the concrete floor, pulling the disc against my chest, rolling away from the flames.

Norris and Kane slammed Albright face-down into the deck, ratcheting heavy steel cuffs behind his back with brutal finality.

"Vance Albright," Kane growled into the man's ear as he hauled him up. "You are under arrest for high treason, conspiracy to commit murder, and armed espionage against the United States of America."

May you like

My fiancé let his friend chop off my mother’s waist-length

My husband spent the night with another woman

My husband brought his mistress to our nine-year-old daughter’s dance

I stood up slowly, cradling the burned edges of my hand, but the silver disc in my grip was completely intact.

"Get Marcus on the horn," I breathed, looking at Kane. "Tell him the hearing isn't over yet."