Chapter 8
The black SUV navigated through the quiet, rain-slicked streets of SoHo as midnight approached.
Beatrice sat next to Dante, the reality of the night’s events finally beginning to sink in.
“What do you mean it wasn't Charles?” she asked, turning to face him fully.
“Charles is a greedy bureaucrat, but he doesn't have the connections to pull off that high-level data breach,” Dante explained.
“The digital code used on those transfers came from a secondary proxy server based in Zurich.”
Beatrice’s analytical mind immediately began piecing the puzzle together.
“Zurich? Wilkes & Hart doesn't have an international node in Switzerland.”
“Precisely,” Dante said. “Someone else was using Charles’s greed to siphon money out of my account.”
“Who?”
“That’s what we are going to find out,” Dante replied, taking out his secure satellite phone.
He dialed a short number and placed it on speaker.
“Talk to me, Marco,” Dante commanded.
“We processed Victoria’s phone, boss,” Marco’s voice cracked over the speaker.
“She had encrypted communications with an anonymous handler tagged under the alias 'The Architect'.”
Beatrice leaned closer to the phone. “Did you trace the IP address?”
“It routes back through a private server host in Manhattan,” Marco reported.
“Specifically, a penthouse suite registered to the Halcyon Crown Hotel.”
Beatrice gasped. “The same hotel where the gala was held tonight?”
“It appears our enemy was watching the entire circus from forty floors above you,” Dante said grimly.
“Why frame me?” Beatrice asked, frustration creeping back into her voice. “Why not just steal the money?”
“Because you were the only person in the building capable of finding the leak,” Dante said, looking at her intently.
“They needed you discredited or eliminated before you could trace the money back to the hotel owner.”
Beatrice’s eyes widened as the final piece fell into place.
“Julian Hart,” she breathed.
Julian Hart was the elusive senior founding partner of Wilkes & Hart, a billionaire recluse who rarely appeared in public.
He was also the majority owner of the Halcyon Crown Hotel chain.
“Julian Hart is the one stealing from you?” she asked, incredulous.
“Julian Hart is facing liquidation in his European ventures,” Dante revealed softly.
“He needed four point eight million to cover a margin call before the Asian markets opened tomorrow.”
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Dante turned to Beatrice, his gaze fierce and determined.
“And we have ninety minutes to stop him from liquidating the rest.”
