Chapter 11 - Ghost in the System
Standing before the vault's biometric keypad, Mark connected a custom decryption device to the data port. The screen flickered, code scrolling rapidly as it bypassed the corporate encryption wall.
"Access Granted," the green display flashed.
The heavy steel vault door hissed open, revealing a wall of server racks glowing with icy blue LED lights. At the center sat a single, silver encrypted hard drive containing the master ledger of Julian Vance's illegal empire—the payments, the blackmail files, and the chemical development contracts.
Mark plugged in a high-speed flash drive, initiating the data transfer. The progress bar crept forward: 20%... 40%... 60%...
Suddenly, the lights in the room turned blood-red. A harsh siren echoed through the penthouse suite.
"Intruder alert in Sector 4," an automated voice chimed through the speakers.
On the desk monitor beside him, a video feed flickered to life. Julian Vance's face appeared on the screen, his expression dark with murderous disdain.
"Did you really think it would be that easy, Mark?" Julian laughed softly through the speaker. "I knew the moment you made contact with federal agents. I let you come here."
The progress bar hit 100%. Mark yanked the flash drive out, pocketing it instantly.
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"You're too late, Julian," Mark said cold into the camera. "I have the ledger."
"You have a piece of plastic," Julian sneered. "While you were playing thief in my office, my men were entering your federal safehouse. Say goodbye to your family, Mark."
