Chapter 5 - The Vanguard Mandate
Ten minutes later, two black armored SUVs pulled up onto the wet curb outside the hospital glass doors. Four men in tailored charcoal suits stepped out, holding umbrellas, and opened the lobby doors.
One of them bowed respectfully to Arthur. "Sir. The executive suite at the headquarters is prepared. The board is waiting on secure line one."
Arthur looked at Daniel. "Come with me, Daniel. Your shift at this counter is over."
"Where are we going?" Daniel asked, looking around the empty lobby, the ruined coffee on the floor, the silent computer terminal.
"To change the system," Arthur replied simply. "Apex was just one tooth in a very large, very corrupt machine. Across this country, millions of people are being turned away from doors just like this one because they lack a piece of plastic or a string of numbers on a screen. Your father wanted to burn that machine down. Now, you have the fuel."
Daniel looked down at his green debit card resting on the counter. He picked it up, slipped it back into his wallet, and looked at Arthur.
"What about my deposit?" Daniel asked with a faint, quiet smile.
Arthur laughed—a rich, deep sound that echoed through the high ceilings of the lobby.
May you like
"Consider it paid in full, Mr. Vance," Arthur said, gesturing toward the open doors. "With interest."
They walked out into the cool, raining night together, leaving behind the sterile walls of St. Jude's and stepping into the roar of an empire being reborn from the ashes of a lie.
