Chapter 5: Digital Footprints**
Marcus pulled out a battered laptop connected to a private satellite uplink. “If your driver Thomas is missing, they had to coordinate the intercept through private security channels. Let’s see who Evelyn hired.”
Marcus had spent a decade working logistics and cyber-intelligence before leaving the corporate world in disgust. His fingers flew across the keyboard, bypassing commercial firewalls to scan local dispatch registries and private security subcontracts registered around Vance Logistics.
Within twenty minutes, a name popped up on the cracked screen: *Apex Asset Protection.* “Apex isn’t a bodyguard service,” Marcus muttered, his face darkening under the glow of the monitor. “They’re clean-up crew contractors. Ex-mercenaries who specialize in ‘containment and wealth recovery.’”
Julian leaned over the desk, pointing to a photograph attached to an encrypted dossier. “That’s him. The man at the gate with the white gloves.”
“Victor Cole,” Marcus read aloud. “He doesn't leave loose ends, Julian. And look here—an offshore retainer of two million dollars was wired to an Apex shell company from an encrypted Cayman account yesterday afternoon.”
“Evelyn’s signature isn’t on that wire,” Julian analyzed quickly, his business acumen taking over despite the adrenaline. “She’s too smart to leave direct financial trails. She used an intermediary.”
Suddenly, the small desk lamp flickered. Outside in the salvage yard, a faint snap of crushing metal echoed through the quiet afternoon air.
Lily dropped her cup of tea, the ceramic shattering on the linoleum floor.
May you like
Marcus instantly drew a concealed revolver from beneath the desk, clicking the safety off with practiced precision. “They tracked the burner phone ping, Jules. They’re here.”
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