Chapter 12 - THE TRUTH IN THE DARK.txt
By the time Graham and Detective Miller reached the second platform of the gantry crane, the fight was already over.
Marcus Vance was pinned flat on his back against the wet steel floor. Kane stood directly over him, one heavy paw planted firmly on the man’s chest, his bloody jaws hovering inches from Vance’s exposed throat. The dog released a low, terrifying growl that vibrated through the metal structure beneath their feet.
"Don't move! Don't move!" Vance shrieked, his face white with terror, his right arm bleeding heavily through his torn jacket. "Get it off me! Please!"
"Kane, hold," Graham commanded quietly as he stepped onto the platform.
The dog immediately ceased his growl, but kept his weight pressed onto the suspect's chest, his golden eyes locked onto the man's face with cold, unwavering discipline.
Detective Miller stepped forward, quickly cuffing Vance’s left hand and pulling his bleeding right arm behind his back. "Marcus Vance, you are under arrest for attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, conspiracy to commit murder, and felony weapons violations."
Graham knelt down on the damp metal floor beside the bleeding suspect. The wind off the harbor whipped his hair across his face, but his expression was entirely devoid of mercy.
"Who hired you, Marcus?" Graham asked, his voice low and dangerous.
Vance gasped for air, his chest heaving under the memory of Kane’s weight. "I... I don't know her real name! I swear to God!"
"Liar," Graham said coldly. "You placed the phone on my wall. You had the pearl. Who pays the escrow money?"
"It’s an offshore trust!" Vance blurted out, tears of pain mixing with the salt spray on his cheeks. "A trust in Liechtenstein! It was set up three years ago by Natalie and her mother! The contract triggers automatically if Natalie is arrested or incapacitated! It pays out two million dollars to whoever eliminates the primary prosecuting witness!"
Miller looked up at Graham, his expression grim. "A suicide switch. A dead-man’s trigger built into her legal defense strategy."
"How many others are on the payout list, Marcus?" Graham demanded, grabbing the collar of Vance’s jacket. "Who else did she hire?!"
"Just me for the local job!" Vance sobbed. "I was supposed to take you out before the preliminary hearing next Tuesday! If you don't show up to testify, her defense team moves for a full dismissal based on lack of direct victim identification!"
Graham released Vance’s collar, letting the man’s head thud back onto the steel grid. He stood up slowly, looking out over the dark, fog-shrouded harbor.
The entire horrifying picture was finally complete. Natalie Vale hadn't just built a fake identity to steal his money and take his life. She had built a fortress of legal and criminal contingencies designed to destroy anyone who dared to survived her web.
"Take him down," Miller ordered the tactical officers who had finally reached the platform.
As they dragged Marcus Vance down the winding steel stairs, Graham stayed behind for a moment, standing at the edge of the catwalk. Kane walked up beside him, resting his muzzle gently against Graham’s leg.
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Graham reached down, stroke the dog’s wet fur, and looked out toward the horizon where the first faint rays of dawn were beginning to break through the dark storm clouds over the Atlantic Ocean.
"It ends next Tuesday, Kane," Graham whispered into the cold morning wind. "We're going to finish this."
