Chapter 7 - The Annex Trap
The county probate annex was a monolithic stone building downtown, silent and deserted after hours except for the dim glow of fluorescent lights spilling from the records room on the second floor.
I parked my car across the street in the shadows, killing the headlights, and waited for Judge Harrison’s black sedan to pull up beside mine.
Harrison stepped out of his car, adjusting his overcoat against the autumn chill, accompanied by two armed court marshals.
“The security cameras show light in the archival vault,” Harrison whispered as we converged near the side service entrance. “Whoever is inside is using an administrative override code.”
“Eleanor’s corporate lawyer,” I said grimly, pulling open the heavy metal door.
We moved up the concrete stairwell in absolute silence, our footsteps muffled by the rubber treads. As we reached the second-floor landing, the door to the archival vault stood slightly ajar, casting a narrow strip of yellow light across the linoleum hallway.
Inside, muffled voices drifted out.
“Just slide the new timestamp page into the back of the 2018 registry binder,” a familiar, oily voice instructed—Sterling Vance, Eleanor’s high-priced attorney.
“Are you sure this won't be flagged by the digital scanner?” a second voice—the corrupt county clerk—asked nervously.
“Just do it! Eleanor is paying us ten grand apiece to make this disappear before tomorrow morning’s hearing!” Vance snapped.
Judge Harrison didn't wait another second. He shoved the vault door wide open, his hand resting on his lapel where his judicial credentials hung.
“Freeze! County probate inspection and federal document custody!” Harrison’s voice boomed through the vault.
Sterling Vance dropped a thick stack of backdated parchment papers onto the hardwood table, turning around with a look of sheer, unadulterated horror. The county clerk froze like a deer caught in headlights, his hands hovering over the binding machine.
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“Well, well, well,” Harrison said, stepping into the room with calm, terrifying authority. “Attempting to alter public probate records under active federal injunction. I don't think even Eleanor Sterling’s money can buy your way out of this one, counseling.”
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