The Corrupt Shield
Chapter 05 - The Corrupt Shield
“Transferred?!” Sergeant Miller shouted, stepping between his captain and the laptop. “We just exhumed a homicide victim from the cellar! We have the murder weapon, the physical evidence, and the financial ledgers linking Adrian and Charles to offshore fraud!”
“And those files are now classified state evidence,” Captain Davis replied firmly, showing a signed executive order. “You are ordered to hand over all flash drives, physical journals, and evidence bags to my team right now. Mrs. Vance, you need to leave the property immediately.”
I stepped forward, my eyes blazing with anger. “You’re burying the evidence! Just like they buried Sarah five years ago!”
Victor Vance looked at me with a cold, mocking smile. “Careful, Claire. Making baseless accusations against senior law enforcement officers can result in felony defamation charges. Your husband made a mistake during a heated argument tonight, but that doesn't give you the right to slander this family.”
“A mistake?!” I yelled, pointing to the stitched wound on my temple. “He smashed a porcelain plate into my head! He murdered his first wife!”
“Sarah Vance’s death is an ongoing investigation with multiple suspects,” Victor replied smoothly, unbothered by my rage. “And as for your domestic incident, Adrian’s legal team has already filed a counter-complaint claiming you attacked him first with a steak knife.”
I stared at him in utter horror. They were already rewriting the entire evening, exactly as I had predicted at the dinner table. They were using their political power to suppress the evidence, frame me as the aggressor, and clear Adrian’s name before the morning news cycles began.
“Miller, hand over the drive,” Captain Davis ordered, reaching for the laptop.
Sergeant Miller looked at Captain Davis, then at Victor Vance, and finally at me. A fierce, unyielding conflict raged in his eyes. He knew that if he handed over that drive, Sarah would never get justice, Adrian would walk free, and my life would be in constant, lethal danger.
Suddenly, Miller made a decision.
He didn't hand over the drive. Instead, he grabbed the ruggedized laptop, slammed it shut, and yanked the master encryption key from the side port, tossing it straight into my open handbag!
“Run, Claire!” Miller roared, tackling Captain Davis into the side of the forensic table!
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! ARE YOU CRAZY?!” Victor screamed as equipment crashed to the floor.
May you like
“GO! GET TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN THE CITY!” Miller yelled at me, holding back the two state captains.
I didn't wait for a second invitation. I grabbed my bag, sprinted out of the forensic tent, and ran through the dark vineyard toward my car parked near the outer gates!
