Chapter 8
The wall panel behind Julian suddenly chimed with a high-pitched, automated alert tone.
The red and blue lights on the screen shifted to a solid, pulsing amber.
EXTERNAL TRANSMISSION INITIATED, the digital voice droned mechanically.
UPLOADING ARCHIVED NAVAL TRIBUNAL FILES TO GLOBAL PUBLIC DOMAIN.
Julian lunged toward the screen again, but the keypad sparked violently, throwing a shower of orange embers across the floor.
"No! Stop it!" Julian screamed, slamming his palms against the metal casing.
"That will destroy our entire corporate portfolio! The SEC will seize everything!"
"Let them seize it," Martha said calmly, walking toward the heavy front glass doors.
"The truth has been sitting at the bottom of the trench for decades.
It's time it surfaced."
Victoria stood up slowly, clutching the leather ledger to her chest.
The glowing bridal gown behind her seemed to pulse in time with the upload progress bar on the screen, which ticked upward: 47%... 48%... 49%...
"Where are you going?" Victoria asked Martha as the old woman reached for the manual release latch on the reinforced door.
"My work here is done," Martha said without looking back.
"The ledger is in your hands now, Victoria.
You can either finish your father’s cover-up, or you can let the light in."
"Wait!" Victoria took a step forward.
"You can't just leave me here with him."
Martha stopped, her hand resting on the brass latch.
She turned her head slightly, her glowing blue eyes softening just a fraction.
"You are a Sterling," Martha said quietly.
"You have the key.
Use it."
With a sharp click, Martha pushed the door open.
May you like
The cool evening air rushed into the showroom, carrying the scent of rain and impending storm.
Before Victoria could take another step, a sharp squeal of tires echoed from outside the boutique.
