Chapter 19 - The Master Code Revealed
Victor stepped closer, pulling a sleek titanium tablet from his trench coat pocket and turning the high-resolution screen toward Claire.
On the screen was a live schematic of the Vance-Sterling research laboratory in Dayton, Ohio, flashing with red warning indicators.
“What did you do to my father’s shop, Victor?” Claire demanded, her voice tight with fierce, protective fury.
“I didn’t do anything to your father’s shop, Claire,” Victor replied calmly, his sharp eyes locking onto hers.
“The turbine prototype your father built in 1984 contains an automatic failsafe sequence programmed by Arthur Sterling.”
“When the federal courts transferred the patent rights to your family last month, the automated security countdown was triggered.”
“In seventy-two hours, the proprietary software driving your green-energy laboratory will erase itself permanently from the global server.”
“Unless you hand over the original 1976 military charter sitting in your grandfather’s vault in Boston.”
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Claire felt a cold chill run down her spine as she realized the terrifying intelligence of the trap Arthur Sterling had built decades ago.
Her grandfather had created a system where no single branch of the family could ever hold full power without destroying the others.
