The Billionaire's Mistake

MISTAKE 140

Chapter 140: A national scandal

"Crystal clear, sir," Hawkins said, ending the call with a sinking feeling in his stomach.

The director of intelligence stood outside the president's office, arranging his thoughts himself for a good while. After a moment's hesitation, he knocked and entered at the president's call. President Edward Ricardo looked up from his desk, his expression expectant. "Reeves, I hope you have good news for me.

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Receives cleared his throat. "I'm afraid not, Mr. President. I've just received word from the

field team. Anya Shaw... We failed to capture her. She's gone received word from the

The president's face darkened, his eyes flashing with anger. "What do you mean, 'gone'? How is that possible?"

"It appears the Shaw family moved her before our agents arrived, sir. We're still investigating how they knew about the operation."

The president slammed his fist on the desk, causing Reeves to flinch. "This is unacceptable! Do you have any idea what's at stake here, Reeves?"

"Sir, I assure you, we're doing everything in our power to locate her. But the Shaw organization is-"

"I don't want excuses!" Ricardo shouted, cutting him off. "I want results. New orders. I want every member of the Shaw family brought in. Every last one of them."

Reeves felt a chill run down his spine. "Mr. President, with all due respect, that's not possible. We don't have probable cause for most of them. It would be a clear violation of their constitutional rights."

Ricardo's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Did I stutter, Director? This is a direct order from your Commander in Chief. Bring them in. All of them. I don't care how you do it."

"Sir, I must protest," Reeves said, his voice firm despite his growing unease. "This is illegal. We can't just round up an entire family without cause. If we do this, the Shaw family will have something on the agency. All of our previous findings and investigation could be ruled as a personal vendetta."

roared, causing the director to take an involuntary step back. "I don't care about your precious protocols. This is bigger than you know. Now, are you going to follow my orders, or do I need

He could not reply. If all this goes south, he would take the blame. And

director spoke, his voice barely above a

had taken his order and turned to leave. But unknown to him, the Shaw was again, one step.

the bustling newsroom of the Capital Daily, reporter Jack Winters was wrapping up his latest story when his phone buzzed. He glanced

hushed voice that he recognized as one of

His a national

pulse quickened.

pausing for effect. "He's

phone. "What? That's...

It's going down, Jack. And

whirling. This couldn't

across the room. "Hey, Winters! Did you hear? Parliament's just called an emergency session. Something big's happening.

he jumped to his feet and made his way to the office of Evelyn Blackwood, the formidable editor-in-chief

office, slightly out of breath. "I've got a

from her computer, her eyes narrowing. "This

to be impeached. On charges of heading organized crime." Blackwood's eyebrows shot up. "That's one hell of an accusation,

emergency session," Jack pressed on. "It fits. And my source has never been

is true, it's the story of the century. But if it's not..." She

sounds crazy," Jack said, "but my gut says this is real. We need

Blackwood said nothing, her fingers steepled in front of her face. Finally, she nodded. "Alright, Winters. Tell the newsroom to go on standby. But we don't run a damn thing until we have

out, "And Winters? If this pans out, it's your story.

the newsroom, his mind

he began to brief his colleagues, he couldn't shake the feeling that they were standing on pure Intel. This

just for the president