“The tea canister and the chemical patch have been entered into the homicide docket.”
“The custody order has been vacated with prejudice.”
“And the four-hundred-page vellum deed to Conduit Nine is pristine.”
Judge Mercer unsealed the execution block of the capias warrant:
“Chief Justice Arthur Vance has locked the monolithic, four-inch-thick bronze blast doors of the West Conference Room,” the Judge stated:
“He has severed all external civilian telecommunications lines with the Department of Justice.”
“He believes that Daniel secured your permanent civil commitment.”
“He believes that the four hundred million dollars from Zurich will clear before the morning opening of the financial exchanges.”
“And he is preparing to sign the Sovereign Modernization Mandamus in eleven minutes, permanently deeding Conduit Nine to his private consortium in Vaduz.”
Judge Mercer pointed her gold-headed cane toward the bronze central entrance of One First Street:
“Clara.”
“Yes, Your Honor?”
“Your grandfather gave forty-two years of his life to survey that rock.”
