Chapter 6 - Doors of the Boardroom
The convoy of SEC vehicles and my executive sedan tore through the snow-slicked streets of the financial district, sirens wailing to part the morning commuter traffic. Inside the car, Lily sat wrapped in a heavy wool blanket provided by Director Hayes, finally asleep with her head resting softly against my shoulder, Elena’s badge clutched tightly in her small fist.
"We have twelve minutes before the board doors lock," Director Hayes said from the front passenger seat, tapping furiously on a secure tablet. "My team has already intercepted Elena from the sub-level. She’s bruised, but she’s coherent. She’s being transported directly to Halden North Tower's underground garage."
"Will she make it in time?" I asked, keeping my eyes fixed on the digital dashboard clock.
7:48 AM.
The board meeting was scheduled for 8:00 sharp.
"She has to," Hayes replied without looking up. "The encrypted drive she hid in the warehouse contains the master decryption keys for the offshore accounts Marcus used. Without it, the SEC can freeze the company’s assets, but we won't be able to prove you didn't personally authorize the transfers until a full forensic audit concludes—which could take months. By then, Halden Logistics would be bankrupt and liquidated."
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out.
CHAIRMAN VANCE: Where are you, Nathan? The directors are assembled. The vote on emergency receivership begins in ten minutes.
I didn't reply. I just stared at the screen as the car made a sharp, screeching turn into the subterranean parking garage of Halden North Tower.
The tires crunched against the fresh snow as our vehicle slid to a halt right in front of the private executive elevator bank. Before the car doors even fully opened, security guards and corporate lawyers were swarming the area, but when they saw the SEC tactical vests stepping out of the lead cruiser, they instantly backed away.
The elevator doors slid open. Standing inside, supported by two female federal agents, was Elena Reyes.
Her face was pale, and a bandage covered her bruised jaw, but when she saw Lily sleeping soundly in my arms, her eyes lit up with a fierce, motherly light.
"Lily..." she breathed, stumbling forward.
I gently handed the sleeping girl over to her mother. Elena pulled her close, burying her face in her daughter’s hair, her shoulders shaking with quiet relief.
"Thank you," Elena whispered, looking up at me with tears in her eyes. "You came back for her."
"We came back for both of you," I said gently. I checked my watch. 7:52 AM. "Can you walk?"
May you like
Elena pulled back, setting Lily gently on her feet while holding her hand. She reached into the deep inner pocket of her oversized coat and pulled out a small, heavy titanium flash drive—scratched and stained with engine grease, but entirely intact.
"The master ledger," Elena said firmly, her voice steady and resolute. "Let's go ruin some careers."
