Dalton continued, her voice tight with controlled alarm. They're emptying accounts, transferring assets, and removing physical records. All within the last 30 minutes. The room erupted in murmurs. Several federal agents immediately began checking their own phones and radios.
Marcus felt the blood drain from his face. "That's impossible," Elena said. "The raids aren't scheduled until tomorrow morning. How could they know? " Marcus turned slowly toward Pike, understanding creeping over him like ice water. ""Because someone warned them. "" Pike's expression had transformed completely. The desperation was gone, replaced by a cold smile that made Marcus'ss skin crawl.
"You Federal boys sure are smart," Pike said quietly. ""Shame you're not quite smart enough. "" Briggs, who had been standing near the entrance, looking increasingly panicked, stepped toward Pike with confusion written across his face. ""Captain, what's happening? What's he talking about? "" Pike didn't even glance at him. "Stay quiet, Briggs. " But sir, the accounts, the records. "Did you—" "I said stay quiet. " Pike's voice carried a threat that made Briggs step backward. Marcus felt fury building in his chest, but he forced his voice to remain calm.
"You anticipated being exposed tonight. You had a contingency plan ready. " "Did I? " Pike's smile widened. "Prove it. " Dalton was speaking rapidly into her phone, coordinating with teams across the city. Units are moving to secure what they can, but most locations are already empty. We're talking millions in assets that just vanished.
Marcus stepped closer to Pike, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "You used the wedding confrontation as cover. " While everyone was focused on Briggs dragging me away from the altar, you were signaling your contacts to start moving. Pike shrugged casually. "Interesting theory. " But even if someone did warn those business owners, which I'm not saying happened, what does that prove about me? Maybe they just got nervous when police showed up at a fancy hotel wedding.
Bad publicity, you know. The casual arrogance in Pike's voice made Marcus want to put his fist through the man's face. Instead, he turned toward Briggs, who was looking increasingly frightened and confused. "Sergeant Briggs," Marcus said clearly. ""You need to understand something. " Captain Pike just destroyed evidence worth millions of dollars and compromised a federal investigation that took 2 years to build. " Briggs looked between Marcus and Pike, uncertainty clouding his features. When federal prosecutors start filing charges, Marcus continued, "Who do you think they'll blame first?
The captain who gave the orders or the sergeant who carried them out? " Pike stepped between them. ""Briggs doesn't need to listen to your manipulation. "" "It's not manipulation," Marcus replied coldly. "It's reality. Pike will sacrifice you the moment it becomes convenient. He already started by letting you take the public humiliation of dragging me away from my wedding while he stayed clean. Briggs's face showed growing alarm, but he remained silent.
Marcus pressed harder. He sent you in here to commit civil rights violations on camera while he orchestrated the real operation from outside. You were the fall guy from the beginning. Shut up, Pike snapped, his composure cracking slightly. "Look at him, Briggs," Marcus said, gesturing toward Pike.
"He's not denying anything I just said. " Briggs opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed it again. Fear had replaced confusion in his eyes, but he stayed quiet. Dalton finished her call and approached the group, her face grim. Emergency teams are at all six locations. Three businesses are completely cleared out.