Chapter 9 - The Ledger of Sins
The click of the terminal signaled the completion of the download. But it wasn't a wipe sequence.
Julian walked calmly to the console, tapping a single key. ""Did you really think the master key was designed to delete, Beatrice? Grandfather wasn't a fool. The master key initiates an immutable upload to the Department of Justice cloud archives.""
Beatrice gasped, the color draining completely from her face. The revolver slipped from her fingers, clattering uselessly against the raised metal floor. She collapsed onto her knees, sobbing with a mixture of rage and terror.
""Every dummy corporation,"" Julian read off the monitor. ""Every assassination contract. Every offshore account in the Caymans. It’s all gone straight to the Attorney General.""
Elena bent down, picking up the small silver revolver and expertly ejecting the magazine, dropping the loose bullets onto the floor beside Beatrice.
""You threw wine in my face tonight because you thought I was nobody,"" Elena whispered, leaning down to meet the broken woman’s eyes. ""Remember that when you wear an orange jumpsuit for the rest of your life.""
Heavy footsteps stormed the stairwell. Federal agents in tactical armor swarmed the server room, weapons raised. Marcus led the local detectives behind them.
""Beatrice Vance, you are under arrest for grand larceny, racketeering, and attempted murder,"" a federal agent declared, cuffing Beatrice’s wrists behind her back.
As they dragged the weeping socialite past the servers, she locked eyes with Elena one last time. ""You won't survive them,"" Beatrice hissed through spit and tears. ""You think I was working alone? The Council... the Council will tear you to pieces!""
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Julian stepped between them, his towering presence cutting off Beatrice’s venom. ""Take her away.""
Elena watched them lead Beatrice into the rain. A strange numbness washed over her. It was over. Or so she thought.
