Chapter 48 - The Collapse of Cross
The reaction in the chamber was instantaneous and catastrophic for Vanguard Global.
Senator Sterling, realizing that any defense of Cross would drag his own political career into a federal grand jury investigation, dropped his gavel, mumbled an incoherent statement about "referring the matter to the inspector general," and practically bolted from the dais through the private side doors.
Julian Cross tried to stand up and slip out through the press gallery, but he was too late.
The heavy double doors at the back of the committee room opened. Special Agent Kathryn Ward, accompanied by four armed agents from the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and two federal marshals, walked down the center aisle.
"Julian Cross," Agent Ward announced, her badge flashing in the glare of the news cameras. "Under a federal arrest warrant issued by the District of Columbia, you are under arrest for major defense procurement fraud, conspiracy to introduce adulterated pharmaceuticals into interstate commerce, witness retaliation, and federal corporate espionage."
Before the flashing lights of forty national news outlets, the silver-haired billionaire who had spent his life looking down on the people who defended his country was pushed against the mahogany witness table. His expensive charcoal coat was pulled back, and heavy steel handcuffs snapped around his wrists with loud, unmistakable finality.
"This is an outrage! I know the President!" Cross shrieked, his voice cracking into high-pitched panic as the marshals hauled him to his feet. "You can't do this to me!"
"Keep walking, Mr. Cross," the federal marshal said coldly, marching him past the press corps toward the waiting transport van on Constitution Avenue.
May you like
By noon, Vanguard Global’s stock had plunged eighty-two percent into total freefall on the New York Stock Exchange. The Department of Defense formally canceled all existing contracts with the firm, freezing their corporate assets across the globe.
And in Virginia, the regional hospital authority announced an emergency contract expansion: Regional Medical Logistics, led by Jessica Carter, was formally awarded the emergency management oversight of all military and civilian pharmaceutical distribution across three states. Jessica had stepped completely out of the shadow of victimhood, taking her rightful place as a vital pillar of the community's defense infrastructure.
