Chapter 10 - Secrets of the Sterling Vault
To break into the Sterling firewall, they needed a physical access point to the private network. The only place in the city with a direct connection was the main server room in the basement of the Sterling Financial tower in Manhattan. It was guarded by biometric scanners, armed guards, and a security system that would make a bank look like a lemonade stand.
“I have an idea,” Avery said, her voice dropping. “I still have my old passkey. They never deactivated it.”
Elena looked at her, stunned. “Are you crazy? That building is a fortress.”
“It’s not just a fortress,” Avery said, a cold smile touching her lips. “It’s a monument to their own arrogance. They left my access open because they were so sure I’d never have the courage to come back. They were so sure that I was broken that they didn't think I’d ever dare to step foot in their kingdom again.”
That night, Avery donned a dark, hooded jacket and made her way to the Sterling tower. She felt like a phantom, moving through the shadows, avoiding the cameras she knew so well. She reached the side entrance, her heart pounding in her chest. She held her old ID card up to the scanner. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the light turned green, and the door clicked open.
She was in.
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She made her way to the basement, the silence of the building echoing in her ears. She found the server room, the hum of the cooling fans the only sound in the darkness. She pulled out the drive Elena had given her and inserted it into the master console.
“Come on,” she whispered. “Give me everything.”
