Chapter 4: The House of Cards
The following hour was a blur of efficiency. The agents moved with the cold, rhythmic precision of a machine. They pulled hard drives, encrypted ledgers, and prototype chips out of the library’s false-bottomed shelves.
Evelyn Vanderbilt, the woman who had ruled the city’s elite, sat in a chair by the fireplace, her wrists bound in zip ties. The glamorous gala had transformed into a crime scene. Guests, once eager to be associated with her, were now being detained, questioned, and escorted out by federal officers.
"You have no idea who you're dealing with," Evelyn whispered, though her voice lacked conviction. "My husband... his connections in Washington—"
"Your husband is currently being detained at O'Hare airport," Elias said, interrupting her. "He tried to board a flight to Zurich with the decrypted access codes. He’s already talking, Evelyn. He’s giving us every name, every shell company, and every bribe you’ve authorized since 2022."
The finality of the statement hit her harder than any physical blow. The empire wasn't just falling; it was being erased.
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Clara, still shaken but now standing tall, walked up to Elias. "Is it over?"
Elias looked at the young woman. He saw the genuine, resilient spirit in her eyes. "It’s over, Clara. You’re free to go. And we’ll be taking your statement tomorrow at the office. You’re going to be the state’s key witness, not a suspect."
