Chapter 14 - Cornered BeastsBy noon the following day, Harrington Construction stock was halted on the market after losing 82% of its market capitalization. Bank after bank filed emergency clawback lawsuits.
Callan Harrington, out on temporary bail, was losing his mind.
I was pulling into a gas station near the Mesa border when a silver Porsche cut aggressively across three lanes, blocking my truck at the pump.
Callan stepped out of the car. He looked unhinged—his hair wild, his designer shirt wrinkled, his eyes bloodshot with manic energy. He was holding a heavy silver revolver in his right hand.
"Get out of the truck, Anastasia!" Callan screamed, his voice cracking with desperation. "You ruined my life! You destroyed everything my family built!"
The few bystanders at the gas station screamed and scattered for cover.
I stayed in the driver's seat, resting my hands calmly on the top of the steering wheel.
"You destroyed yourself, Callan," I said calmly through the half-open window. "You thought power was something you inherited. You didn't realize power comes from being able to build something with your own hands."
"Shut up!" Callan yelled, pointing the gun directly at my face, his hand shaking violently. "Sign the affidavit saying the video was a deepfake! Sign it or I swear to God I'll blow your head off right here!"
"Look up, Callan," I said softly.
He blinked, momentarily confused.
Four high-definition traffic control cameras, mounted on the light poles surrounding the intersection, were pointing directly down at him.
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"Every camera on this intersection is linked to the city's automatic license plate recognition network," I explained smoothly. "You pulled a firearm on a federal witness on live city feed. You have roughly twenty seconds before SWAT arrives."
In the distance, the low, thundering roar of sirens began to fill the desert air.
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