Chapter 12 - The Federal Courthouse
The next morning, the sun broke through the clouds over Portland, reflecting off the glass towers of the city. The steps of the Federal District Courthouse were packed with news vans, reporters, and satellite dishes. Mara Whitlow had leaked the news to every major media outlet on the West Coast: Daniel Pierce, the infamous fugitive engineer, was coming in to surrender—and he was bringing the truth.
A black luxury sedan pulled up to the curb first. Out stepped Owen Mercer, wearing a three-thousand-dollar suit, surrounded by a team of high-priced corporate defense lawyers. Mercer looked confident, smiling for the cameras, playing the role of the grieved corporate leader who had been betrayed by an unstable employee.
"We are here today to see justice served," Mercer declared into a cluster of microphones. "We hope Mr. Pierce finally takes responsibility for his sabotage of Helix Aeronautics."
Then, Mara's mud-splattered pickup truck pulled up right behind Mercer’s sedan. The crowd went dead silent.
The truck door opened, and Daniel Pierce stepped out, dressed in a simple corduroy jacket, his wrist wrapped in bandages, his eyes steady and clear. Beside him walked Evelyn Moore, holding the waterproof satchel tightly against her chest.
Mercer’s smile faltered for a fraction of a second. His eyes locked onto Daniel, then onto the satchel in Evelyn's hands.
"Daniel," Mercer said, stepping forward with a fake, warm expression. "I'm glad you're alive. Let's handle this quietly inside with the legal team—"
"Keep your distance, Owen," Daniel said, his voice carrying clearly across the court plaza. "I'm not here to talk to your lawyers. I'm here to give Federal Judge Vance the unedited server archives."
A murmur exploded through the crowd of reporters. Cameras flashed like lightning.
"You're confused, Daniel," Mercer said, his voice dropping to a harsh, dangerous whisper as he leaned in closer. "You think anyone is going to believe a man who’s been hiding in the woods with a redneck widow? You have nothing."
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Evelyn stepped right up to Mercer, coming nose-to-nose with the corporate executive.
"The widow has a name, Mercer," she said, her voice dropping like a hammer. "And the widow has the cryptographic keys."
