THE GLITTERING CAGE OF FROZEN GOLD AND THE MIDNIGHT AUDIT OF RUIN

The sudden blackout threw the pier into chaos. Shouts echoed from the interior of the communications van as the automated backup generators whined to life, struggling to cycle the power back online.

Vivienne and Marcus moved like shadows through the driving rain, covering the remaining distance before the emergency lights could illuminate the apron. Marcus engaged the nearest guard, taking him down with a silent, devastating sweep that dropped the man into the puddles without a single cry. Vivienne slipped past the open rear doors of the communications van just as the internal monitors flickered back to life with a blinding green glare.

Inside the van sat a tech operative frantically typing strings of code onto a glowing mechanical keyboard, sweat pouring down his face as the progress bar on the main screen reached ninety-eight percent.

Vivienne stepped into the van, pressing the cold barrel of her service pistol directly against the back of the tech’s neck.

"Hands off the keyboard," Vivienne commanded, her voice cutting through the hum of the cooling fans like a razor.

The tech froze instantly, his fingers hovering millimeters above the keys, his breath catching in his throat.

"Captain Vance," the tech stammered, recognizing her voice instantly. "You don't understand. If I abort this sequence now, the entire server cluster will self-destruct, taking every financial record with it."

"Then let it burn," Vivienne said coldly. "Disconnect the satellite uplink right now, or your career ends in a federal holding cell."

Before the tech could comply, the side door of the van slid open violently, and a towering figure in a dark trench coat lunged into the small space, slamming Vivienne against the metal equipment rack.

It was Julian Vance’s former chief of security, Viktor, a ruthless ex-mercenary who had managed to evade the federal sweep at the mansion. Viktor swung a heavy iron wrench directly toward Vivienne’s head, but she ducked beneath the arc with lightning speed, driving her combat boot squarely into his chest.

Viktor grunted, stumbling backward against the server racks, but recovered with terrifying speed, lunging forward to pin Vivienne against the console.

Just as Viktor raised his arm for a final, crushing blow, the heavy door of the van was ripped completely off its hinges. Marcus stood in the frame, his eyes blazing with fury, and hauled Viktor out of the vehicle by his collar, hurling him headfirst onto the wet concrete of the pier below.

Vivienne didn't hesitate. She slammed her hand down onto the emergency termination switch on the console, halting the data deletion sequence at ninety-nine percent.