Chapter 13 - The Digital Trap
Instead of going to jail, Ethan found himself sitting in a secure underground bunker beneath Sterling Technologies, surrounded by glowing server racks and digital forensics experts.
Antoine sat at the center console, calmly sipping espresso while Sarah analyzed a complex network trace on a massive multi-monitor display.
'You staged my arrest?' Ethan asked, blinking in disbelief as the handcuffs were removed by security.
'We needed Victor to think he had won completely,' Antoine explained without looking up. 'When a criminal thinks they're safe, they make mistakes. Victor just connected his personal offshore server directly to our network to finish the download.'
Sarah slammed her hand onto the desk triumphantly. 'Got him! IP address verified, cryptographic signature matched to Victor Vance's private terminal.'
Antoine stood up, buttoning his suit jacket with deliberate slowness. 'It's time to end this.'
Within hours, federal agents executed a simultaneous raid on Victor Vance's luxury estate, seizing servers, financial records, and evidence of a massive conspiracy to bankrupt Sterling Technologies from within.
Victor was arrested live on national television as he attempted to board a private jet bound for the Cayman Islands.
Watching the broadcast from the penthouse, Ethan felt a profound sense of vindication wash over him.
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'You used me as bait again, didn't you?' Ethan asked Antoine, half-smiling.
'I gave you the opportunity to prove your loyalty,' Antoine corrected smoothly. 'And you didn't break. Welcome back to the team, Ethan.'
