CHAPTER 3
Victor stumbled backward against the damp brick wall, his expensive Italian leather shoes stepping into a deep puddle of muddy rainwater.
"This is a mistake!" Victor’s chief legal counsel shrieked, clutching his leather briefcase against his chest like a shield as federal agents swarmed the alley. "We are conducting a legitimate corporate transaction between Mercer Aeronautics and Dane Global Holdings!"
Special Agent Marcus Vance stepped through the rain, holding a high-resolution tablet that displayed a real-time progress bar reading "TRANSMISSION 100% COMPLETE - DATA VERIFIED."
"Mr. Dane," Agent Vance said, looking up from the screen with a icy, razor-sharp smile. "At three-fifteen this morning, the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington issued emergency arrest warrants for you and seven members of your executive board."
Victor’s face drained of every remaining trace of color, his jaw trembling as he looked from Agent Vance back to Elena’s calm, unreadable face.
"On what grounds?" Victor stammered, his confident Wall Street persona completely evaporating into the cold Seattle air. "I haven't committed a crime! I bought stock options!"
"On charges of corporate espionage, international money laundering, treasonous theft of classified defense technology, and attempted murder," Agent Vance declared firmly, signaling two agents to step forward with heavy steel handcuffs.
May you like
"Attempted murder?" Victor gasped, pointing a trembling finger toward me as I leaned against the alley wall, clutching my bleeding side. "He fell! He was injured before I even arrived!"
"The quantum briefcase your thumb biometric just activated recorded three hundred sixty hours of continuous high-definition audio and video," Elena interjected softly, her voice cold and unyielding. "Including the precise moment your lead operative stabbed my father in his office before dragging him into this alley."
