Chapter 46
Unmasking the Enemy
Elena’s grip tightened on the phone as she stared at the grainy security image. The face on the screen was unmistakable.
It was someone they all knew.
Someone who had been in the room with them—trusted, respected, untouchable.
Naomi’s voice was low, controlled. “We need to be sure.”
Elena exhaled sharply, forcing herself to think. “Jordan, is there any way this could be manipulated?”
Jordan’s voice came through the earpiece, calm but urgent. “Negative. This footage was stored on an isolated system. There’s no way it could be altered remotely.” He paused. “Whoever you’re looking at… it’s real.”
Richard stepped back, shaking his head. “I don’t understand. If he’s involved, then—” His voice cracked. “Then everything we’ve built is a lie.”
Elena forced herself to stay focused. Feelings couldn’t get in the way now.
Naomi’s expression was unreadable. “If we go after him without undeniable proof, we’re the ones who’ll be buried.”
Elena nodded. “Then we get the proof.”
She turned to Richard. “That backup drive—where is it?”
He hesitated. “It’s… safe.”
Elena’s patience thinned. “Safe where, Richard?”
His jaw tensed. “I didn’t trust keeping it in one place. The encryption key is separate. The drive itself… it’s in a bank vault.”
Naomi gave a slow nod. “Smart. But that also means getting to it won’t be easy.”
Jordan’s voice returned. “I can help with that. I’ll spoof a legal authorization request. It’ll flag the vault for a high-priority retrieval.”
Elena exhaled. “Do it. We’ll head there now.”
As she turned toward the door, Richard caught her arm. His eyes were clouded with something between fear and resignation. “Elena… if we do this, there’s no going back.”
She met his gaze. “We passed that point a long time ago.”
Naomi checked her weapon. “Let’s move.”
Elena took one last look at the image on her phone before shoving it into her pocket.
The face staring back at her was not a stranger.
It was someone who had been pulling the strings all along.
And now—they were going to bring him down.
