Chapter 14: The Race to Parcel Seven
Chapter 14: The Race to Parcel Seven
Nathan's truck roared through the service gate, Deputy Collins' patrol SUV close behind.
The fresh tire tracks cut across an old maintenance road leading toward the eastern hills.
Collins spoke through the radio.
"State units are setting up roadblocks."
Nathan shook his head.
"He won't use the roads."
"You think he'll head cross-country?"
"I think he knows this land better than we do."
The two vehicles bounced over rutted trails until they reached the edge of the Reed property.
There, the tracks disappeared beneath a grove of oak trees.
Nathan climbed out.
"He abandoned the truck."
Collins examined the ground.
"He's on foot."
Nathan looked toward the creek.
"The bunker."
They split up.
Two deputies circled toward the north.
Collins and Nathan followed the creek east.
The afternoon sun filtered through the trees, making it difficult to see movement.
Then Nathan spotted something.
A torn piece of expensive gray fabric hanging from a barbed-wire fence.
"Holloway's suit."
Collins nodded.
"He's close."
They followed the trail another hundred yards.
Suddenly, they heard the rumble of machinery.
Nathan frowned.
"That's not a truck."
The sound grew louder.
They pushed through the trees and stopped.
A yellow excavator sat beside the bunker entrance.
Its engine was running.
The steel bucket slammed into the concrete roof.
Once.
Twice.
Chunks of concrete broke loose.
Nathan understood immediately.
"He's destroying it."
Collins grabbed his radio.
"All units, move in!"
The deputies rushed forward.
Marcus Kane stepped from behind the excavator carrying a rifle.
"Stop!"
He fired into the air.
The deputies took cover.
Marcus backed toward the machine.
"Holloway! Hurry!"
Nathan looked past him.
Richard Holloway emerged from the bunker carrying two heavy metal cases.
One was filled with documents.
The other appeared much older.
Military markings covered its surface.
Nathan shouted,
"Richard!"
Holloway stopped.
For a brief moment, the two men stood facing each other across the clearing.
"It didn't have to end like this," Holloway said.
Nathan laughed bitterly.
"You chained my mother in a shed."
"You don't understand."
"Then explain."
Holloway glanced at the metal case.
"This isn't about greed."
Nathan folded his arms.
"Really?"
"This country buried secrets here decades ago."
Nathan looked at the case.
"What secrets?"
Holloway smiled faintly.
"The kind governments pay fortunes to recover."
Nathan remained silent.
"I offered your father a partnership."
"And when he refused?"
Holloway's smile disappeared.
"He made his choice."
Nathan took another step.
"So did you."
Marcus suddenly grabbed Holloway's arm.
"We have to go!"
The excavator's bucket struck the bunker again.
Concrete cracked loudly.
Nathan noticed something.
The damaged roof was beginning to collapse.
There were still filing cabinets inside.
Evidence.
Government reports.
His father's records.
If the bunker caved in, everything would be lost.
Nathan didn't hesitate.
Ignoring Collins' shout, he sprinted toward the entrance.
"Nathan!"
Dust filled the air as another section of the roof collapsed.
Nathan disappeared into the bunker.
The underground chamber shook violently.
Concrete rained from the ceiling.
Nathan ran to the filing cabinets.
He already had photographs of the documents.
But the originals would carry far greater weight in court.
He pulled open drawer after drawer.
Maps.
Contracts.
Survey reports.
He shoved as many as possible into canvas bags lying nearby.
Another loud crack echoed overhead.
A support beam splintered.
Nathan looked toward the emergency exit.
Still open.
Good.
He slung the heavy bag over his shoulder.
As he turned to leave, something caught his eye.
A faded wooden crate wedged beneath a collapsed shelf.
Stamped across the top were the words:
PERSONAL EFFECTS – JAMES REED
Nathan froze.
His father's belongings.
He forced the crate open.
Inside lay an old work jacket, a pocket watch, and a cassette recorder.
Taped to the recorder was a note.
If they find me first... play this.
Nathan grabbed everything.
The ceiling groaned again.
He ran.
Moments later, he burst through the emergency exit just as the bunker roof collapsed behind him with a deafening roar.
Dust shot into the sky.
The bunker was gone.
Meanwhile, Holloway and Marcus raced toward the waiting maintenance truck.
Marcus climbed behind the wheel.
Before he could start the engine, a sharp command echoed across the clearing.
"Don't move!"
State troopers emerged from the woods on every side.
Marcus raised his rifle.
Collins fired a warning shot into the ground.
"Drop it!"
For a split second, Marcus looked toward Holloway.
Holloway gave the slightest nod.
Marcus understood.
He turned the rifle—not toward the officers—
But toward Holloway.
Nathan watched in disbelief.
One shot rang out.
Holloway staggered backward.
A crimson stain spread across his white shirt.
Marcus immediately dropped the rifle and ran toward the trees.
The troopers chased him.
Nathan hurried to Holloway.
The developer collapsed against a fallen log.
Blood covered his hands.
Nathan knelt beside him.
"Why?"
Holloway laughed weakly.
"You still don't understand."
Nathan pressed his jacket against the wound.
"Save your strength."
Holloway shook his head.
"No..."
He coughed.
"...Marcus wasn't protecting me."
Nathan frowned.
"He was protecting whoever paid us both."
Nathan's eyes narrowed.
"There was someone above you."
Holloway smiled sadly.
"I told you..."
He struggled to breathe.
"...this was never just about land."
Nathan leaned closer.
"Who?"
Holloway looked directly into Nathan's eyes.
Then whispered two words.
"Operation Ironwood."
Before Nathan could ask another question, Holloway lost consciousness.
Paramedics rushed toward them.
Back at the sheriff's office that evening, investigators cataloged the evidence Nathan had recovered.
Among the documents was the cassette recorder from his father's crate.
Nathan carefully inserted fresh batteries.
The recorder clicked.
Static crackled through the speaker.
Then...
His father's voice filled the room for the first time in twenty-one years.
"If you're hearing this..."
James Reed's voice was calm but tired.
"...they finally came."
Nathan felt his throat tighten.
The recording continued.
"I don't know whether I'll still be alive."
A long pause.
"But if I am gone..."
Another pause.
"...the man responsible is not the one standing in front."
Nathan looked toward Collins.
The deputy stared at the recorder.
James Reed continued.
"Carl is weak."
"Holloway is greedy."
"But neither of them started this."
Nathan's heartbeat quickened.
"There is another man."
The tape hissed loudly.
Then his father's next words were almost lost beneath the static.
"He wears the badge..."
The recording abruptly stopped.
The tape had snapped.
Nathan stared at the silent recorder.
Collins slowly looked up.
"A badge."
Nathan nodded.
His father's final message confirmed what the list had suggested.
Someone in law enforcement had orchestrated everything.
May you like
And if James Reed was right...
The mastermind had been hiding behind a badge for more than twenty years.
