Chapter 11
The second gunshot tore through the air with a deafening roar, striking the thick wooden frame of the abstract painting just inches above Elena’s head. Splintered wood and shredded canvas rained down onto the white marble floor as Elena threw her weight against the concealed latch of the fuse box. The heavy metal door popped open with a metallic click, revealing a chaotic maze of glowing fiber-optic cables and blinking diagnostic ports.
"Got it!" Elena gasped, her fingers brushing past the tangled wiring until she located the primary master diagnostic port.
She slammed the lightning-to-ethernet adapter from Maya’s phone directly into the mainframe socket. The screen on the phone instantly flashed from blue to a blinding, solid green. A torrent of cascading code began scrolling down the display at lightning speed.
"Asset migration sequence paused," the smart-home terminal announced in its calm, synthetic voice. "Network diagnostic override detected from local endpoint."
From the top of the glass staircase, Victoria let out a feral scream of sheer frustration. She lowered the gun, aiming directly at Elena’s back, her face twisted into a mask of murderous fury.
"You ruined everything! You filthy little maid, I'll send you to hell!" Victoria yelled, her finger tightening on the trigger for a fatal third shot.
Jonathan moved with explosive speed. He didn't hesitate; he lunged across the open foyer, throwing his entire body into Victoria just as the gun went off. The bullet flew wide, shattering the glass balustrade of the staircase into a million glittering fragments that rained down over the lower floor.
Victoria lost her footing on the slick glass edge, stumbling backward with a sharp gasp of shock. Her silver dress billowed around her as she flailed wildly for purchase, her hands grasping desperately at empty air.
"Jonathan! Help me!" Victoria shrieked, the bravado completely vanishing, replaced by primal terror as her heel slipped over the sheer drop of the second-story landing.
Jonathan caught her by the wrist just in time, yanking her forward onto the safety of the carpeted landing. She collapsed in a heap of silver fabric, panting heavily, utterly defeated.
Detective Miller vaulted up the remaining steps, snapping heavy steel handcuffs onto Victoria’s wrists with practiced efficiency.
"Victoria Vance, you are under arrest for attempted murder, corporate extortion, and conspiracy," Miller announced formally, hauling her to her feet.
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Down below, the green light on Elena’s phone terminal turned solid blue.
"Transfer terminated," the smart-home voice chimed pleasantly. "All corporate assets successfully restored to primary Vance accounts."
