Chapter 8 - The Shadow Behind the Throne
The private jet banked sharply as it entered Geneva's airspace. Elena sat in the leather cabin, reviewing the financial discrepancy that had surfaced during the liquidation of Sterling assets.
Something was deeply wrong. Marcus was arrogant, entitled, and reckless, but he lacked the sophisticated technical knowledge required to manipulate international clearinghouses. Someone had guided his hand, feeding him Vance trade secrets while keeping him completely unaware that he was a disposable pawn.
Arthur Vance sat opposite her, cutting a cigar with clinical precision. ""You should let it rest, Elena. Marcus is broken. The Sterlings will spend the next ten years in federal bankruptcy courts. The score is settled.""
Elena leaned forward, her eyes piercing her uncle's practiced calm. ""Marcus was an idiot, Uncle. But the encryption key used to divert the twenty-five million came from an internal terminal inside the Vance Zurich vault. Only three people possess that clearance.""
Arthur didn't flinch. He struck a match, the flame reflecting in his spectacles. ""Many people have access to old codes, child. Don't go hunting ghosts when you've just won the crown.""
""I am not hunting ghosts,"" Elena said, setting her tablet on the table between them. ""I'm looking at the transfer authorization stamp. It bears your personal biometric digital signature.""
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Arthur blew a slow, gray ring of smoke. The plane's descent warning tone chimed.
""Then you should know better than to board an aircraft controlled entirely by my crew,"" Arthur said, his voice dangerously soft.
