Chapter 14 - The Interrogation in the Dark
The assassin groaned, pinned flat against the base of the grand grandfather clock as Bruno’s massive jaw hovered inches from his throat, hot breath washing over his terrified face.
Adrian walked up slowly, picked up the dropped Walther, ejected the magazine, and tossed the pistol aside. He grabbed the assassin by the lapels of his expensive bespoke suit and hoisted him upright against the wood.
“Who gave you the order on my grandfather?” Adrian demanded, his voice dropping into a register that made the glass in the display cases rattle.
The assassin coughed, blood staining his white shirt collar, but a twisted smile touched his lips. “You... you think killing me stops it? The vault... the patents... they’re already being uploaded to an offsite server in Zurich. You’re already ruined, Adrian.”
Adrian didn't strike him. Instead, he pulled out his phone, tapped the screen twice, and put it on speaker.
Maria’s calm, professional voice came through the tiny speaker instantly: “Server trace complete, Adrian. The Zurich upload was intercepted ten minutes ago by federal cyber-command. The IP address matches a private terminal in Geneva—registered directly to the man holding your collar right now.”
The assassin’s smile vanished instantly, replaced by sheer, unadulterated panic. “How... how did you—?”
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“You talk too much about pawns,” Adrian whispered, stepping back. “Bruno, hold him.”
The mastiff pressed his massive weight harder against the man’s chest, effectively cutting off his breath. Adrian turned away, pocketed the flash drive, and walked out of the gallery, leaving the professional killer to the tender mercies of a very protective dog.
