Chapter 13: The Prodigal Father
Alistair Vance walked down the concrete steps with the calm, measured stride of a man taking an evening stroll through a garden. His dark lab coat was completely unwrinkled, entirely devoid of any evidence that he had spent the last hour in federal custody.
"Hello, my children," Alistair said smoothly, his voice carrying effortlessly across the damp expanse of the underground vault. "Did you really think a federal holding cell could keep me from my work?"
Maya raised her hands defensively, backing away from the control console until her spine hit the cold metal. "How... how are you out? Miller’s team..."
"Miller is my head of security, Maya," Alistair chuckled softly, shaking his head with mild disappointment. "Did you honestly believe a federal badge was real? We printed those credentials in the basement of our corporate headquarters three years ago."
Julian felt the blood drain entirely from his face. The entire arrest, the federal agents, the dramatic breach—it had all been a brilliantly orchestrated piece of theater designed to flush out Clara’s hidden backups and lead them directly to the master server.
"You staged the whole thing," Julian snarled, stepping protectively in front of Detective Chen. "You used Clara's murder to draw us out."
"Clara was a liability," Alistair replied dismissively, gesturing lazily with his hand. "She wanted to expose forty years of medical breakthroughs because of some antiquated notions of ethics. Progress requires sacrifice, Julian. Just like the cement on your hands."
Alistair turned his cold, calculating gaze toward his daughter. "Now, Maya, be a good girl and step away from the terminal. Hand me the drive."
Maya stood her ground, her fingers curling tightly around the edge of the metal control console. "No, dad. It ends tonight. I'm uploading the files to every independent news outlet in the country."
Alistair’s expression didn't change, but his eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. He pulled a small electronic detonator from his coat pocket and pressed his thumb against the activation pad.
"You can't upload anything if there's no network left to transmit through," Alistair said calmly. "You see, this entire water treatment facility is built directly over the city's primary methane distribution line. One press of this button, and this entire vault—and everyone in it—becomes a permanent part of the foundation."
Thorne lowered his weapon, looking at Alistair in sudden, horrified disbelief. "Sir... my men are still inside the perimeter!"
"Collateral damage," Alistair replied coldly, never breaking eye contact with his daughter. "Now, Maya. Step away from the console, or I press the switch right now."
May you like
Maya looked at the detonator in her father's hand, then down at the laptop screen where the data transfer progress bar hit 98%.
With a sudden, desperate lurch, Maya slammed her palm down onto the enter key just as Alistair's thumb depressed the detonator button.
