Chapter 24 - The Depth of Truth
The ice-cold water hit Jax like a physical blow, swallowing him instantly into darkness.
The current pulled him deep into the flooded corridors of Cell 09.
His lungs burned as he kicked wildly, fighting against the swirling debris and jagged metal.
A shaft of yellow light pierced the murky water beneath him.
Marcus was clinging to the yellow airtight case, trapped under a fallen steel beam at the bottom of the flooded cell.
Jax swam down furiously, grabbing the steel beam with all his strength.
Veins bulged on Jax's neck as he leveraged his legs against the stone floor, lifting the beam just enough.
Marcus slid out from under the weight and kicked toward a air pocket near the ceiling.
Jax followed him, bursting through the surface of the water inside a small, unflooded air cavern.
Both men gasped violently for air, coughing up dirty water onto the wet rock ledge.
Between them lay the heavy yellow case, its digital seal blinking red.
"You're a fool, Jax," Marcus wheezed, lying on his back. "You should have let me sink."
"Shut up," Jax panted, dragging his hand over his wet face. "Open the damn box."
Marcus pulled the silver snail key from his pocket and inserted it into the case's keyhole.
With a heavy pneumatic hiss, the airtight lid popped open.
Inside lay a single leather-bound journal and a stack of confidential government files with red stamps.
Jax picked up the top file and opened it.
May you like
Glued to the first page was a official photograph of Governor Vance.
Next to it was an identical photograph of a man named Marcus.
