Chapter 5 - Reading the Badge
The main street grew heavier with intense silent pressure.
Sheriff Vance took a slow half-step backward on concrete.
His eyes darted frantically across my encrypted satellite phone.
He recognized the official military logo stamped on casing.
It was the emblem of the Department of Defense.
"Who... who are you talking to?" Vance asked weakly.
His voice lacked its previous booming small-town confidence.
"I am talking to the United States Army JAG," I said.
"And every word you say is being recorded live."
Amelia's eyes widened in sheer, sudden horror and panic.
She knew what JAG meant from my old documents.
She realized I was not just a simple local mechanic.
She realized I still held high-ranking federal officer clearance.
"Logan... what are you doing?" Amelia stammered out.
"You told me you retired from service years ago!"
"I never retired, Amelia," I answered with cold voice.
"I was placed on undercover assignment by federal order."
"An assignment to investigate corruption in this exact county."
Waitress Nora stepped down from the porch steps closer.
She pulled a folded paper document from her apron pocket.
"Commander, you need to see this paper right now," Nora said.
She handed the paper straight to my free hand.
Vance's eyes bulged with pure, unadulterated terror now.
"Nora, hand that back to me!" Vance shrieked loudly.
"That is private sheriff department paperwork, you thief!"
Nora looked Vance straight in the eyes without fear.
"It is proof of your illegal protection money ring."
"You forced every business in town to pay cash."
"And you buried the reports when people complained!"
I scanned the handwritten ledger lines on the paper.
It listed monthly payoffs from local business owners here.
Vance's signature was stamped on every single page bottom.
General Miller spoke urgently through my phone speaker line.
"Commander, did you secure physical evidence of extortion?"
"Affirmative, General," I replied into the microphone clearly.
"I have the primary accounting ledger in hand now."
Vance reached for his leather sidearm holster in desperation.
His hand gripped the heavy black handle of pistol.
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"I will not let you destroy me!" Vance screamed.
📖 Chapter 6 brings the intense standoff as Vance draws his weapon in broad daylight. Keep reading right now. 👇
