Chapter 10 - The Counter-Strike
Emma looked at Arthur, her expression shifting from shock to a cold, razor-sharp calm that made the older man’s smile falter for a fraction of a second. She didn't scream, she didn't cry—she simply tilted her head, letting out a quiet, almost imperceptible breath.
“You really think Marcus Vance is just a dinosaur, don't you?” Emma asked softly.
Arthur frowned, his cane tapping once against the hardwood floor. “Marcus doesn't know about this ledger. He’s an old-school litigator who wouldn't know a shell company if it bit him.”
“Marcus is old-school,” Emma agreed, taking a slow step toward the kitchen counter where her phone was plugged into the charger. “Which means he doesn't trust digital servers. He keeps paper copies of every single subpoena in a safety deposit box at the federal courthouse—including the one he filed this morning naming Arthur Vance as the primary beneficiary of Julian’s offshore accounts.”
David’s face drained of color. He spun toward Arthur, panic flashing in his eyes. “Sir, if Marcus filed that—”
“Shut up, you fool,” Arthur snapped, raising his cane defensively.
Before Arthur could finish his sentence, the front door—which David had left unlatched—swung wide open with a violent crash. Three armed federal marshals, led by Special Agent Miller, poured into the hallway, weapons drawn and trained directly on Arthur and David.
“Arthur Vance, you are under arrest for federal identity fraud, racketeering, and conspiracy,” Agent Miller announced, her voice ringing clear and loud through the house.
David froze, his hands instantly shooting into the air. Arthur, however, didn't reach for a weapon; instead, he let out a low, raspy chuckle, slowly lowering his silver-headed cane to the floor.
“You’re too late, Agent,” Arthur whispered, a triumphant gleam in his eye as he tapped his wristwatch. “The timer on my server in Zurich went off thirty seconds ago. Every single digital asset Apex Logistics owns has just been permanently wiped from the grid.”
Agent Miller signaled for the marshals to secure Arthur and David, cuffing them both with swift precision. As David was dragged past Emma, he looked at her with pure terror, whispering one final warning before the door closed.
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“You stopped Julian, and you caught Arthur, but you don't know who bought the server space in Zurich,” David muttered frantically. “There’s a fourth person on the board, Emma—someone who hasn't even shown their face yet.”
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