Chapter 5 - The Boathouse at Black Lake
A blinding snowstorm battered the frozen shores of Black Lake, thirty miles north of Chicago. The old Vance family boathouse stood as a dark silhouette against the white wilderness, its timber beams covered in icicles.
Alfred's tactical team arrived in three blacked-out snowcats, moving silently through the woods. Alfred walked at the front, flanked by Marcus and Bruno. Maya had insisted on coming in the lead vehicle—she was the only one who knew the exact floorboard where her father had hidden the iron box.
"Sensors show clear, Boss," Marcus whispered, checking his night-vision scope. "Valetti's men haven't located this site yet."
They pushed open the creaking wooden doors of the boathouse. The interior smelled of old pine, lake algae, and rust.
Maya walked directly to the far corner near a rusted boat winch. She knelt on the freezing floor, pointing to a loose oak plank marked with three small carved notches.
"Here," she whispered.
Marcus used a crowbar to pry open the heavy floorboards. Deep within the insulated space beneath the floor lay a heavy iron dispatch box, wrapped in oilcloth to protect it from moisture.
Alfred picked up the heavy box and inserted the steel key into the lock.
CLICK.
The heavy tumblers turned smoothly. Alfred lifted the iron lid.
Inside lay three thick, leather-bound ledgers containing meticulous records of Julian Valetti's entire criminal empire—offshore bank account numbers, bribed judicial officials, international smuggling routes, and the real evidence behind dozens of unsolved homicides. But lying right on top of the ledgers was a sealed manila envelope addressed to: ALFRED CHRISTA.
Alfred broke the wax seal and pulled out a handwritten letter from Thomas Vance.
“Alfred,” the letter read. “If you are reading this, I am already dead, and my sweet Maya is either in your care or in a grave. I chose you because among all the lords of the underground, you are the only man who still possesses an iron code of honor. Valetti is planning to unleash a dirty chemical weapon trade across three major cities next month. The red ledger contains the launch codes and buyer identities. Stop him, Alfred. Save my daughter. And take everything he built.”
Before Alfred could finish reading, the glass windows of the boathouse shattered simultaneously in a shower of deadly shards!
"AMBUSH!" Marcus screamed, throwing himself over Maya.
A flare burst overhead, illuminating the snow-covered lake in blinding red light. Surrounding the boathouse were fifty heavily armed Valetti enforcers, backed by two heavy armored personnel carriers.
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From the top of an armored vehicle, a loud speaker boomed across the frozen lake.
"ALFRED CHRISTA!" Julian Valetti’s arrogant, booming voice echoed through the storm. "YOU BROUGHT MY LEDGERS AND THE GIRL RIGHT TO MY DOORSTEP! SURRENDER THEM NOW, AND I MIGHT LET YOU DIE QUICKLY!"
