Shadow in the Salt
"I had a feeling you'd come here yourself, Helena."
The voice belonged to Marcus Cole, the head of security for Vance Global who had stood beside Arthur Vance at the gala just hours ago. He was flanked by two burly men in heavy maritime raincoats.
Helena kept her back to the server rack, shielding the progress bar of the drive with her body. "Marcus. Did Arthur send you, or are you taking side contracts from Richard now?"
Marcus smiled faintly, though his eyes remained entirely cold. "Arthur is an old man who believes in legacy and family crests. Richard understands how modern business works. You pay for the mistakes you can't bury, and you bury the ones that are too expensive to fix."
"Forty lives were lost ten years ago at the lower district plaza because of this exact thinking," Helena said, her voice cutting through the damp air. "Now Richard is preparing to put four hundred families into buildings sitting on top of an underwater mudslide."
"The buildings will stand for ten, maybe fifteen years," Marcus said flatly, stepping closer. "By then, the company will have transferred ownership to an offshore management trust. No liability. No Vance names on the paperwork."
"That's not business, Marcus. That's manslaughter by calendar."
Behind her back, Helena’s finger felt the hard drive interface. The transfer was at ninety-two percent. She needed ninety seconds.
"Give us the drive, Helena," Marcus said, extending a gloved hand. "You walk out of here. Richard will drop all accusations regarding the gala. We’ll even provide a relocation fund for you and Lily. A nice house in the hills, far from this city."
"And what happens when the first tower settles into the mud?" Helena asked, stalling for time. "What do I tell my daughter when she sees the news?"
"Tell her you were smart enough to keep her safe," Marcus said, stepping forward.
May you like
Transfer Complete.
Helena grabbed the industrial fire extinguisher mounted to the wall beside her and discharged a thick cloud of white chemical powder directly into Marcus's face.
