Chapter 20 - The Admiral's War
Two hours later, the *Vanguard Star* was under federal escort, anchored firmly in the waters of the lower Chesapeake Bay under the guns of two naval patrol craft and a Coast Guard cutter.
The bridge was swarming with federal forensic agents, naval intelligence officers, and medics.
Derek Vance sat zip-tied to a steel chair, his shoulder wrapped in heavy field bandages, his face swollen and bruised. His arrogance had completely disintegrated, replaced by the hollow, shivering terror of a cornered coward who finally realized the full weight of the machine he had challenged.
Arthur Vance walked onto the bridge, his trench coat soaked, holding a thick red legal binder. He looked down at Derek with an expression of pure, unadulterated disgust.
"Hello, Derek," Arthur said quietly.
Derek looked up, his lips trembling. "Uncle Arthur... please. You have to represent me. It was an accident. Evelyn forced my hand! She attacked me!"
Arthur didn't even raise his voice. He opened the binder and dropped it onto Derek’s lap.
"Those are the unsealed indictments returned twenty minutes ago by the Eastern District of Virginia," Arthur stated with absolute finality. "Treason. Espionage. Human trafficking. Capital murder in the first degree for the premeditated poisoning of Richard Vance. And federal terrorism charges for the armed assault on a military installation."
Derek turned an ash-gray color. "Capital... capital murder? That’s... that’s the death penalty."
"Yes," Arthur said coldly. "And under military jurisdiction, given your use of stolen naval clearances and combat against active personnel, you will be tried by a general court-martial. I have already formally recused myself from your defense—and filed an amicus brief urging the court to deny bail unconditionally."
"Uncle Arthur, please!" Derek wept, tears streaming down his bruised cheeks. "What about Mother?! Where is Mother?!"
"Patricia is currently in federal custody at Quantico," I spoke up, stepping into the light of the bridge lanterns. I had changed Julian into a warm navy fleece, and he was currently sleeping safely in the helicopter cabin under the care of a naval nurse. "Her accounts have been frozen. The estate on Crestview Drive has been seized under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. By tomorrow morning, every asset, every car, every piece of jewelry she bought with Dad’s blood will belong to the United States government."
Derek looked at me, his eyes hollow, broken.
"You really destroyed us," he whispered.
"No, Derek," I said, leaning down so my eyes were level with his. "You destroyed yourselves the day you decided that greed was worth more than honor, and that family was something you could throw in the trash when it no longer served you. You slapped me in that ballroom to prove you were a big man. Now look at you."
He couldn't hold my gaze. He looked down at the bloody linoleum, shaking.
"Take him away," I commanded.
May you like
Two armed naval police officers hauled Derek up by his arms, dragging him out into the cold rain toward the transport boat below.
***
