Chapter 12 - Confrontation in the Rain
The gates of the Evans Systems research compound hung open, their electronic locks cleanly bypassed.
Rain pounded against the windshield of Clara’s sedan as it rolled through the dark courtyard. Steam rose from the asphalt. Clara stepped out into the storm, flanked by Marcus and three armed private security guards.
In the center of the courtyard, standing under the glare of industrial floodlights, was Julian. He looked haggard, his navy suit torn and stained from jail, his hair plastered to his forehead. But beside him stood four heavily built men in dark raincoats, bearing the insignia of Blackwood Global.
""Clara!"" Julian yelled over the roar of the rain, his voice a ragged mixture of fury and desperation. ""Did you think you could just erase me? Did you think you could strip my name off my own company and walk away with everything?""
Clara walked forward until she stood ten paces away, unaffected by the rain soaking her hair. ""You did this to yourself, Julian. You hit me. You embezzled from your investors. You kept Vanessa on my money. You destroyed your own life.""
""You made a fool out of me!"" he screamed, stepping forward, his fist clenched. One of Clara's guards raised a hand, stepping into his path. Julian spat on the ground. ""Damian owns my debt now. He owns my legal representation. And he owns the rights to Vance Logistics. You hand over the neural encryption keys tonight, or Damian’s lawyers will tie you up in federal litigation until every dime you own is bled dry!""
""Damian Vance is using you as a disposable battering ram, Julian,"" Clara replied with chilling composure. ""He doesn't care about you. He knows the neural patents belong to me personally, not Vance Logistics. The moment you fail to deliver the keys, Damian will throw you back to the federal prosecutors.""
Julian’s face twitched with raw, unhinged rage. ""I don't care about Damian! I don't care about the company anymore! I want you to pay for what you did to my mother! She’s staying in a motel on Highway 9! My brother is facing ten years in state prison! You ruined us!""
He reached inside his coat. Clara’s security instantly drew their sidearms, aiming directly at Julian’s chest.
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""Step back, Mr. Vance!"" the lead guard shouted.
Julian pulled his hand out, revealing not a weapon, but a heavy brass ignition key. He pointed toward the auxiliary power building behind the lab. ""You think you're so smart, Clara? The backup generators are already rigged. If I don't get those source codes, everything inside that lab burns tonight.""
