Chapter 8 - The Sterling Syndicate
The dispatcher’s voice hissed through the speaker with chilling clarity: ""All units, Code Red alert from Port Authority. Private vessel 'The Leviathan' cleared for immediate departure at Pier 44. VIP transport authorized by Sterling Logistics.""
Marcus dropped his wrench onto the concrete floor with a loud clang. ""Sterling Logistics? That company was liquidated ten years ago. How do they have clearance for an offshore departure?""
""Because Henry Sterling never left,"" Julian said, his voice terrifyingly calm. ""He bought the city's corrupt officials while we were mourning my brother. Eleanor didn't just want my family's money. She was securing the last remaining physical evidence of Henry's corporate bio-crimes before leaving the jurisdiction forever.""
Clara stood up, gripping the edge of the table. ""The drive she took... it has a hardware encryption lock. She told the man on the phone that she needed a secondary terminal to crack the cipher. She called it 'Project Chimera.'""
""Project Chimera was my brother's private server,"" Julian explained, turning toward the tactical armory hidden behind Marcus's tool pegboard. ""It's kept on an air-gapped terminal onboard 'The Leviathan'—the yacht my father originally purchased for company retreats, now retrofitted as Henry's floating headquarters.""
Marcus pulled two modified assault rifles from the rack, checking the actions with practiced speed. ""Julian, that ship is practically a fortress. Henry’s had private security contractors guarding it for months. You go down there with just the two of us, you're walking into a meat grinder.""
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""Then don't come,"" Julian said, checking the magazine of his .45 caliber pistol and slapping it home. ""This is my family's debt. I’ll settle it in blood.""
""You're not going without me,"" Clara said, stepping between Julian and the door. Her fear was gone, replaced by a fierce, undeniable defiance. ""I know the ship's service layouts. I worked the catering crew for their private dinners. You won't make it twenty feet without me.""
