Chapter 14 - Security Guards Block Financial Assets While Federal Agents Loom
Down in the subterranean parking garage beneath Larkin Tower, federal marshals were securing multiple corporate vehicles.
Veyron’s executive fleet, consisting of luxury black SUVs registered to Arthur Vance, was being impounded one by one.
Agent Miller supervised the operation clipboard in hand, ensuring that no digital evidence was wiped from the onboard navigation systems.
Across the garage, a pair of armored transport trucks from a federal asset forfeiture division idled near the exit ramps.
Inside Larkin’s corporate treasury department on the 38th floor, financial analysts were locking down Veyron’s offshore bank accounts.
With a few keystrokes, nearly eighty million dollars in corporate reserve funds were frozen under federal court order.
The swiftness of the financial counter-offensive left Veyron’s remaining board members utterly paralyzed and unable to react.
Back in the penthouse, Celeste Larkin watched the financial ticker on her multi-monitor workstation with calm satisfaction.
Veyron’s stock had officially been halted by NASDAQ authorities following the cascading federal raid revelations.
“They thought they could bury the safety reports behind corporate shell companies,” Celeste remarked to no one in particular.
“They forgot that sunlight is the ultimate disinfectant—especially when it’s backed by a billion-dollar legal team.”
Piper rolled up beside her mother’s desk, looking at the glowing red and green financial charts spread across the screens.
“Mom, what happens to the patients currently using the defective exoskeleton units?” Piper asked with genuine concern.
Celeste turned away from the monitors, her expression softening instantly as she looked at her daughter.
“Every single unit deployed worldwide is being recalled at Larkin Holdings' sole expense starting tonight,” Celeste promised.
“And?” Piper prompted, waiting for the rest of the operational plan.
“And we are flying Boone Halloway’s engineering team out to inspect, rebuild, and re-certify every single machine personally.”
Piper’s eyes lit up with sudden excitement at the sheer audacity and brilliance of her mother’s plan.
“You’re putting Boone in charge of global quality assurance?”
“Why not?” Celeste smiled faintly.
“He’s the only person in this entire city who actually knows how a machine is supposed to treat a human being.”
The private elevator chimed once more, signaling the arrival of Larkin’s general counsel carrying a freshly signed acquisition contract.
Celeste stood up from her leather chair, smoothing the lapels of her immaculate cream blazer with crisp finality.
“Come along, Piper,” Celeste said gently, extending a hand toward her daughter.
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“It’s time we went downstairs to introduce our new head of quality assurance to his new multi-million-dollar workshop.”
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