Chapter 8 - The Hidden Cargo
Elena stared the guard down. She had faced down arrogant heiresses, panicked corporate executives, and armed syndicate enforcers; a glorified dock bouncer wasn't going to turn her around.
"You can call Mr. Sterling's legal team all you like," Elena said, stepping forward and forcing the guard to take an involuntary half-step back. "Under federal maritime and interstate commerce acts, I have the immediate authority to inspect any unverified cargo manifest within twenty-four hours of port entry. Now, are you going to unlock that container, or do I need to call for a federal marshal with bolt cutters?"
The guard’s jaw tightened. He knew the law just as well as she did, and obstructing a federal agent on a secure port was an easy way to spend five years in a federal penitentiary.
With a low curse, he reached into his tactical belt, pulled out a heavy brass key ring, and marched over to the first refrigerated container.
He slid the padlock open, threw the heavy steel latch, and yanked the right door outward.
A wave of warm, stagnant air rolled out of the dark interior.
Elena clicked on her flashlight, stepping up onto the metal threshold. The beam cut through the dim space, illuminating what was stacked inside.
They weren't medical supplies.
The crates were packed tight with industrial-grade precursor chemicals—regulated substances used in the illegal manufacture of synthetic narcotics, completely unlabeled and manifesting under falsified medical import codes.
"Well," Elena said quietly, turning her head to look at the guard, whose face had gone completely pale. "It looks like Sterling Logistics is in the pharmaceutical business after all."
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Before the guard could react, Elena pulled her radio from her belt.
"Dispatch, this is Agent Vance. I need backup at Gate 4, Sterling Terminal. We have unregistered, hazardous chemical contraband. Initiate immediate seizure protocol."
