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."

it!" the president 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

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

voice barely

turned to leave. But unknown to him, the

story when his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, not recognizing the number. "Winters," he answered, wedging the phone between his ear and shoulder as he continued

me," came a hushed voice that he recognized as one of

His a

quickened. "I'm

said, pausing for effect. "He's about

"What? That's... that's insane.

It's going down, Jack. And it's going

sat back in his chair, his mind whirling. This couldn't be real. The President, involved in organized crime? It was

called out from across the room. "Hey, Winters! Did you hear? Parliament's just called an emergency session. Something big's happening. Jack felt the blood drain from his face. It was true. All

moment's hesitation, he jumped to his feet and made his way to the office of

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

computer, her eyes narrowing.

Jack said, his words tumbling out in a rush. "I've got a source saying he's about to be impeached. On charges of heading organized crime."

pressed on. "It fits. And my source has never been wrong

"If this is true, it's the story of the century. But if it's

know it sounds crazy," Jack said, "but my gut says

moment, Blackwood said nothing, her fingers steepled in front of her face. Finally, she nodded. "Alright, Winters. Tell the newsroom to go on

he turned to leave, Blackwood called out, "And Winters? If this pans

hurried back to the newsroom, his

couldn't shake the feeling that they were standing on pure

change everything, not just for the president but for