Chapter 6 - The Vault
The safety deposit box was located in an exclusive, high-security private bank in Manhattan.
Agent Miller and a team of federal agents escorted Evelyn through the lavish marble lobby.
The bank manager, sweating profusely, led them down into the heavily armored basement vault.
Evelyn handed the brass key to the manager, who inserted it alongside his master key.
With a heavy, metallic clunk, the small steel door swung open.
Evelyn reached inside and pulled out a thick, black leather-bound book.
She opened the pages, revealing decades of meticulously recorded crimes.
There were names of senators, police chiefs, and foreign diplomats connected to the drug network.
But the most important name was written at the top of a page detailing a massive money laundering scheme.
"Marcus Thorne," Evelyn read aloud, her voice echoing in the cold vault.
"He is the CEO of Vanguard Logistics, one of the biggest shipping companies in the country," Agent Miller said in shock.
"He is using his global shipping routes to move the cartel's product undetected."
"And he is the man holding Lucas," Evelyn stated with absolute certainty.
"We have enough evidence to arrest him right now," Miller suggested, reaching for his radio.
"No," Evelyn interrupted sharply, stopping him with a raised hand.
"If you arrest him, his men will execute Lucas before you even put the handcuffs on."
Miller looked at her, realizing the terrible truth of her words.
"We have to make a trade," Evelyn proposed, her mind working furiously.
"We give Thorne the ledger in exchange for Lucas."
"Judge, the FBI does not negotiate with cartel leaders," Miller warned sternly.
"I am not a judge anymore, Miller, I am a mother," Evelyn replied fiercely.
"I will make the call, and I will make the trade myself."
She pulled out the black flip phone the cartel had left at Lucas’s apartment.
She dialed the only number saved in the contacts, holding her breath as it rang.
"Do you have what I want?" Thorne's distorted voice answered.
"I have the ledger," Evelyn said coldly.
"Bring it to the abandoned shipyard on Pier 44 in exactly two hours," Thorne ordered.
"Come alone, or your son dies."
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The line went dead, sealing Evelyn's dangerous fate.
She looked at Agent Miller, silently pleading for him to trust her one last time.
