Chapter 10 - A Midnight Break-In at the Penthouse Office
While I was en route to Sector 7, Marcus Vance and a specialized cyber-forensics team executed a simultaneous raid on Viktor Vance's corporate satellite office located on the 50th floor of the Grand Continental Hotel.
Marcus strode through the double glass doors, flanked by private security. 'Secure the servers! Don't let anyone touch the primary mainframe!'%
The room was pristine, bathed in the blue glow of multi-monitor setups displaying live stock tickers and international wire transfers. At the center console sat Viktor's primary tech handler, a nervous young man who frantically tried to wipe a hard drive.
Marcus lunged forward, grabbing the tech's wrist and wrenching his hand away from the keyboard. 'Step away from the terminal, or I'll have you arrested for aiding international racketeering.'%
The tech threw his hands up, backing away in terror. 'I was just following orders! Viktor said if anything went sideways, to purge the database!'%
'Too late, kid,' Marcus said, nodding to his lead engineer. 'Download everything. Every offshore ledger, every communication log, every shell company registry. Viktor thought he was untouchable. Let's see how he feels when his entire financial empire is laid bare before federal prosecutors.'%
As the download progress bars surged across the screens, Marcus noticed a flashing red alert on Viktor's primary communication terminal—an active live video feed connecting directly to the Sector 7 industrial warehouse where Viktor was currently waiting for me.
Marcus leaned over the monitor, watching the live surveillance footage on the warehouse floor. On the screen, my uncle Thomas was tied to a chair, and Viktor Vance stood beside him, swirling a glass of amber whiskey, smiling into the camera lens.
'Well, Claire,' Viktor's voice echoed through the speaker in the penthouse office as he addressed the camera directly, knowing I wasn't there yet, but that someone would be watching. 'If you're watching this feed, it means your little rescue mission is right on schedule. Come and get your uncle... if you can survive the trap.'%
Marcus grabbed his phone, dialing my private encrypted line instantly. 'Claire, do not go inside that warehouse! It's a localized explosive trap! Viktor rigged the perimeter!'%
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The line went dead with a burst of static just as my car pulled up to the warehouse doors.
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