Chapter 7 - The Intercept
Before we could reach the trading floor, Maxwell’s private radio crackled with static.
"Maxwell, this is Team Beta at Miami International," a gruff voice reported. "We intercepted Victoria Vance at the private charter terminal. She wasn't trying to board a commercial flight. A Gulfstream G650 registered to a Panamanian shell company was waiting on the tarmac to fly her to Geneva."
"Did she have the luggage?" Maxwell demanded.
"Yes, sir. A titanium Pelican case handcuffed to her wrist. We neutralized her escort without incident."
"Bring her directly to Zenith Tower, sub-level two," I instructed immediately. "Do not notify the local authorities yet."
Thirty minutes later, in the soundproof security suite beneath our skyscraper, Victoria sat on a leather sofa, her designer sunglasses cracked, her mascara running down her cheeks. The haughty, sneering mistress who had tried to humiliate me at the gala was reduced to a shivering mess.
The titanium briefcase lay open on the steel table between us. Inside were dozens of encrypted hard drives, three satellite phones, and several thick bundles of European bearer bonds.
"Ethan told you he loved you, didn't he, Victoria?" I asked, looking down at her from across the table.
"He promised me we would leave together," she cried, clutching her bruised wrist. "He said you were just an empty trophy wife who didn't understand the real world! He promised me twenty million dollars once the patent sale went through!"
"Ethan didn't have twenty million dollars," I replied coldly. "He was a puppet, and you were the puppet’s string. Who gave you the bearer bonds, Victoria?"
She shook her head violently. "I don't know his face! I only dealt with a broker in Zurich named Keller!"
"Julian," I said calmly. "Check the serial numbers on those bonds."
Julian scanned the top certificate with a portable UV scanner. "Bearer bonds issued by Banque Cantonale de Genève. Registered under the initial trust of... Jonathan Cross, 1999."
A cold, satisfied smile touched my lips. "There it is. The paper trail that connects the money stolen by Ethan directly back to Cross."
Victoria looked up at me, terrified. "Claire... please. I gave you the drives! Don't let them send me to prison. I was just following Ethan's orders!"
"You tried to ruin my family, sleep with my husband, and steal my birthright," I said softly, leaning down until my eyes locked with hers. "You aren't going to prison today, Victoria. You’re going to do something much more useful."
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"Wh-what?" she stammered.
"You’re going to call your contact in Zurich," I whispered. "And you’re going to tell them that Ethan Montgomery successfully escaped custody and is ready to deliver the final patent encryption keys."
