BLOODLINE OF GLASS AND VENOM

""Lower the gun, Eleanor,"" Julian commanded, his voice dead and resolute. ""Detective Ross is outside with federal marshals. The building is surrounded.""

""Federal marshals move at the speed of bureaucracy,"" Eleanor scoffed, raising the revolver, aiming it squarely at Clara’s chest. ""By the time they breach the private elevators, the funds will be untraceable, and the two of you will be tragic casualties of an unauthorized break-in by an unstable former employee.""

""You really think you're the smartest person in the room, don't you?"" Clara said, stepping calmly out from behind Julian. She showed no fear, her hand resting flat against her abdomen.

Eleanor sneered. ""I built this empire while you were still waiting tables in Boston, Clara. You are nothing.""

""I might be nothing to your empire,"" Clara replied softly, ""but to your servers, I am Marcus Vance.""

Clara raised her right hand. Between her fingers was the titanium drive Ross had pulled from Dr. Sterling’s pocket. She jammed it directly into the master diagnostics port on the exterior console behind her.

A high-pitched warning siren cut through the room. The glowing green lights on the server racks instantly turned a violent, flashing amber.

Security Breach Detected. Biometric Authentication Revoked.

The large monitor displaying the transfer froze at ninety-two percent, flashing bright red: ASSETS FROZEN BY ORDER OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

Eleanor’s eyes dilated in pure horror. ""What did you do?!""

""Sterling didn't just keep medical records on that drive,"" Clara smiled, cold and sharp as broken glass. ""He kept the encrypted routing codes for your Swiss accounts. When I plugged it in, Detective Ross was granted federal access to mirror the transaction. Your money didn't transfer to Zurich, Eleanor. It transferred to a federal escrow lock.""