Chapter 9 - The Ghost in the Ledger
Marcus’s smirk vanished instantly. He snapped the leather briefcase shut, the metal latches clicking loudly in the quiet garage. "What do you mean? The federal warrant is airtight. Julian signed off on three years of fraudulent restructuring documents to cover his illicit real estate investments. He’s going away for a decade minimum."
"Julian is arrogant, but he’s not stupid enough to leave the primary master keys to the cold storage cryptocurrency wallets on a corporate server," Caroline said, resting her hands on the steering wheel. "When his personal effects are searched at the precinct, the police will inventory his encrypted hardware token. If the federal cybercrime unit cracks that encryption before we drain the cold wallets, they’ll trace the trail right back to our shell companies in the Cayman Islands."
Elena’s face paled beneath her professional makeup. "Can they crack it?"
"Not easily, but Julian hired an independent cybersecurity firm last month," Marcus admitted, running a hand through his dark hair in sudden anxiety. "If he gave them administrative backdoor access as part of his contingency plan, they could unlock the cold storage within forty-eight hours."
Caroline reached into her pocket and pulled out a small, encrypted burner phone. She tapped the screen, displaying a live security feed of the precinct's intake desk where Julian was currently being booked. On the grainy video feed, Julian sat at a metal table, handcuffed to a bolted ring, arguing furiously with a public defender while a desk sergeant logged his personal items into a beige plastic evidence bag. Among the items was a sleek, matte-black titanium drive—the master key.
"We don't have forty-eight hours," Caroline said coldly. "We need that token tonight, before it gets transferred to the federal evidence lockup."
Marcus stared at Caroline in disbelief. "Are you out of your mind? The precinct is crawling with federal marshals and local detectives right now. Walking in there would be suicide."
"We aren't going to walk in through the front door, Marcus," Caroline said, her green eyes flashing with dangerous resolve. "We are going to use Julian's own lawyer against him."
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Elena leaned forward from the front passenger seat, her theatrical instincts kicking in once more. "Tell me what part I need to play."
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