Chapter 61 - The Cross Syndicate's Shadow
Derek seized the brass key and Arthur’s index card, sprinting to the antique wall safe behind the mahogany desk. He unlocked the secure high-speed terminal connected directly to the Frankfurt interbank network.
"Eleven fifty-three," Derek muttered, his fingers flying across the mechanical keyboard. "The London liquidation bots are already sending query pings to the sovereign accounts. They are attempting an automated sweep of forty-nine percent of Miller shares."
"Input the bypass sequence, Derek," I urged, standing directly behind him, my hand resting firmly on his trembling shoulder. "Enter the date: July fourteenth, nineteen seventy-nine, followed by Arthur's sovereign seal."
Across the room, the library double doors burst open. State Troopers and federal tactical officers flooded the room, their weapons raised, tactical lights blindingly bright.
"Federal agents! Nobody move! Hands where we can see them!"
Marcus immediately stepped back, lowering his shotgun and raising his empty hands. "Suspects are down! Disarm the woman against the bookcase and the man on the floor!"
Evelyn threw her hands up, sobbing hysterically as two federal agents forced her against the bookshelves, snapping heavy steel handcuffs around her wrists. "It wasn't me! I didn't know! Julian forced me! He threatened my life!"
"Save it for the magistrate, Mrs. Miller," an agent barked, hauling her away toward the hallway.
Julian didn't struggle. As the officers pulled his arms behind his back and clicked the cuffs into place, his eyes remained fixed on Derek’s computer monitor. A dark, bitter grimace twisted his wrinkled features.
"Eleven fifty-nine," Derek whispered, hitting the master execution key with a resounding click.
The screen froze for a terrifying heartbeat. The green progress bar hovered at ninety-nine percent while the red alerts from London flashed with increasing speed. Then, with a soft electronic chime, the screen flushed emerald green.
*OVERRIDE ACCEPTED. SOVEREIGN ASSETS LOCKED TO SOLE SURVIVING BENEFICIARIES: CLARA MILLER & DEREK MILLER. CROSS SYNDICATE ACCOUNTS LIQUIDATED AND TRANSFERRED TO THE STATE ESCROW OF NEW YORK.*
May you like
Julian slumped against the arresting officers, his lifelong scheme crumbling into dust before his very eyes. "Forty years..." he muttered, his voice hollow and broken. "Forty years of patient work... destroyed by an old woman and a clock."
"Not by a clock, Julian," I said, meeting his defeated eyes with absolute composure. "By the family you thought you could tear apart."
