2024-11-13 12:02:51“I will go to the Tezcatlipoca’s Crest of the Serengeti Sierras.”
Ethan’s eyes narrowed as he processed Joshua’s words.
"Tezcatlipoca’s Crest?" he repeated, his voice carrying a hint of disbelief.
The Serengeti Sierras were nothing short of hostile territory, a land of rugged cliffs and untamed terrain on the southern border, infamous for its smuggling and drug cartels.
For anyone to willingly head there seemed reckless—borderline suicidal.
“Why would you want to go somewhere that dangerous?”
Ethan couldn’t hide his unease.
Joshua looked at him, eyes cold and unyielding.
“I don’t have to explain myself to you, Ethan.”
Joshua’s voice was level, calm.
“I’m only telling you because, technically, I’m still under investigation.”
There was an unmistakable edge in the words, a reminder that this was a courtesy, not a request.
Ethan’s throat tightened.
“Fine. Then I’m coming with you.”
His tone was resolute.
“You can’t head into the Sierras alone—it’s too dangerous.”
Joshua didn’t respond.
With a dismissive glance at Ethan and the officers around them, Joshua rose and walked out of the precinct, leaving Ethan staring at the empty doorway.
The tension in Ethan’s chest slowly unwound as he watched Joshua leave, a tiny reprieve from the dread that had settled in since the start of the investigation.
But the relief didn’t last.
A new thought took root, more unsettling than anything he’d imagined before.
Who would have the power to orchestrate this, to turn the tables on someone as untouchable as Joshua?
Only someone with significant authority.
Ethan’s mind flickered to the governor—recently re-elected, freshly endowed with political capital.
The state’s most powerful man might see Joshua as a liability now, a pawn to be discarded after years of service.
Ethan felt a wave of nausea; if the governor was truly behind this, then everything had just become far more dangerous.
He grabbed his phone, dialing quickly as he left the station.
“Sir,” he said the moment the Lieutenant Governor picked up.
“They really took action against Joshua, making various accusations against him.”
“But Joshua’s moving out. I think he’s going south, towards the Sierras. If he’s got to be there, we need to mobilize backup or something, because if he’s out there alone, we’re all in trouble. Texpanse will be in chaos if Joshua’s taken out.”
The Lieutenant Governor’s silence on the line spoke volumes.
“Understood,” he replied. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Ethan ended the call and broke into a brisk walk, adrenaline already coursing through his veins.
He had no idea what awaited Joshua in the Sierras, but he couldn’t let him go unprotected.
The late evening found Molly Anderson at the airport, a sleek black sedan waiting under the dim lights of the arrivals terminal.
She had spent hours preparing, donning an outfit as sharp as her intentions.
When Charlie Northridge appeared through the glass doors, a smile stretched across her face.
He spotted her, giving a casual wave before striding over to the car.
“Charlie,” she greeted, “Hope you’re ready for a warm welcome. Thought I’d give you a taste of the good life here.”
He laughed, sliding into the passenger seat as she took the wheel.
“It’s good to see the Anderson family still knows how to treat their guests.” His eyes sparkled with excitement, thoughts already running ahead to the future.
Their destination was the best hotel in the city, a luxurious beacon in Texpanse’s heart.
Molly navigated the roads with ease, glancing at Charlie as they drove.
He was practically glowing; she didn’t need to ask why.
The Anderson family’s ventures had flourished across the South, and now that influence had finally reached into Texpanse.
This was more than a business move for him.
If he managed this right, he’d have his foot in the door of both commerce and state politics, laying the groundwork for an eventual run at Congress.
It was the start of an empire, the kind of career most men could only dream of.
He leaned back in the seat, a self-satisfied grin on his face.
“Anderson Enterprises really has made a name here. Once we finalize this, I’ll be able to take things to the next level.”
He glanced at her, a glint of ambition in his gaze. “After all, the South isn’t just a market—it’s an empire waiting to happen.”
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Chapter 22
Governor Calvin paced nervously in his office, his earlier excitement now replaced by a growing sense of dread. The federal government had taken the bait—Joshua's alleged corruption was about to make headlines. He could already imagine the accolades rolling in, the recognition for exposing a dangerous criminal. It was the break he'd been waiting for, the stepping stone to greater power.But then, just as everything seemed to be falling into place, his phone rang. Charlie's name flashed on the screen.“Charlie!” Calvin answered quickly, his voice light, expecting congratulations or, at the very least, an update that would confirm his suspicions. But the tone in Charlie’s voice was far from reassuring.“Calvin…” Charlie’s voice came through, strained and clipped. “The plan’s gone wrong. There’s no money. No bribes. It’s all thank-you letters.”Calvin froze, the words crashing into him like a freight train. “What? What do you mean, thank-you letters?”Charlie exhaled sharply. “The boxes,
Chapter 21
The room buzzed with anxiety. The air was thick with uncertainty, and Charlie could feel the pressure mounting on him. The prosecutors—his team—were no longer sure of what they were doing. What had started as a simple investigation into a corrupt businessman had spiraled into something much more confusing. Now, they were questioning everything.Joshua, the man they had believed was a criminal, was suddenly an enigma. The letters. The donations. The humanitarian efforts. None of it made sense. How could someone who had built schools, fed the hungry, and helped entire communities be the villain they had painted him to be?“I can’t believe this…” Mark muttered, flipping through yet another letter. “He’s given millions. How is this possible?”“We must have missed something,” Linda added, her voice tight with panic. “This… this doesn’t make sense.”Charlie stood at the head of the table, feeling the weight of their questioning stares. Their fear was palpable. It echoed in the silence that
Chapter 20
Charlie opened the envelope with a practiced flick, expecting the usual rush of victory that came with uncovering the truth. But instead, as the paper unfolded in his hands, a strange tension tightened around his chest. It wasn’t the evidence he had hoped for.It was a letter.The handwriting was childish, awkward, but the sentiment was clear. A thank-you note from a young boy, expressing gratitude to Joshua for building a new school, providing meals, and donating clothes. The boy spoke of how Joshua had changed his life. The words were simple but unsettling. This wasn’t the damning financial information he had expected. This was something far more irritating.Charlie stared at the letter, a sharp irritation building behind his eyes. He tossed it aside, more out of frustration than surprise. But then he picked up another envelope. The seal cracked open with a satisfying sound, but as soon as he read the contents, his stomach churned.Another letter. Another thank-you. This time, from
Chapter 19
The villa stood eerily silent, its vast rooms stripped bare of everything—furniture, decor, even the smallest of personal belongings. The only things left behind were the countless luggage cases, piled high like a sea of mystery. Every corner of the room seemed swallowed up by them.Charlie stared at the mountain of suitcases, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "This is it," he muttered to himself, his voice low and urgent. "This has to be it."The prosecutor beside him, a tall man with a hard face, shifted uneasily. "Do you think... do you think it’s all cash?" he asked, his tone betraying a hint of nervousness.Charlie nodded. "Hundred-dollar bills, stacks and stacks of them. We’ve finally got him. This is the smoking gun we’ve been looking for."The others in the room, including several high-ranking officials, murmured their agreement.A sense of triumph hung in the air. Charlie quickly took out his phone and dialed a number. "Get the bank team here, now. We need to count this. Eve
Chapter 18
Charlie stood in the office, staring at the bank statements in disbelief. His mind raced, but the numbers didn’t add up. How had Joshua managed to give away so much money—year after year—without anyone noticing? It was impossible to reconcile with the image of the man they’d always known. The amount of money he was sending to these families, the support for all these widows, it didn’t fit into the clean narrative Charlie had built around Joshua’s financial dealings.“This is...” Charlie trailed off, a sense of unease creeping into his voice. “This is more than just charity. Something’s wrong here.”Calvin, who had been sitting in a chair across from him, gripped the edge of the desk. He had always been a man of calculated moves, and this revelation shook him to his core. “I don’t get it. How could he afford this? How could he give away this much and not raise suspicions?”Charlie’s mind worked quickly, sifting through the pieces of the puzzle. The answer seemed clear now—Joshua had be
Chapter 17
Victor O’Brien stood by the window of the small prayer hall, staring out at the sun-drenched horizon. His mind was a storm of conflicting thoughts. The news of Joshua’s arrest had hit him like a slap in the face. The young man had left in such a hurry, but the words had stuck in Victor’s mind, gnawing at him.Joshua, the one man who had forced him to abandon his old, profitable ways—his illicit businesses, the quick money from the border's shadows. With Joshua gone, the path to returning to those practices had just opened up. In the harsh world of Texpanse, where survival often meant bending or breaking the rules, the temptation to go back to his old ways was strong.But something didn’t sit right.Victor had known Joshua for years. He wasn’t just some political pawn or corrupt officer. The man had genuine influence, and a man like Joshua didn’t just fall without a reason. The arrest could be a setup—a trap to test Joshua’s loyalty, a political game orchestrated by those in power. Vic
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