Chapter 9 - THE TWIST IN THE LEDGERHannah plugged the titanium micro-chip into a secure laptop sitting on the desk.
The screen flashed to life, streaming millions of lines of encrypted financial data across the monitor:
ELYSIUM FUND ACCESS: GRANTED. TOTAL BALANCE: $4,210,000,000.
"It's ours..." Eleanor whispered, her eyes greedily reflecting the green numbers on the screen. "All four billion..."
"No," Hannah said coldly. "It isn't."
Hannah leaned over the keyboard and typed a single administrative command code that her father had taught her when she was twelve years old—a sequence of numbers representing her birthday.
EXECUTE PROTOCOL: CLEAN SLATE. REDIRECTING FUNDS...
"What are you doing?!" Eleanor screamed, trying to reach the keyboard, but Alexander held her pinned effortlessly against the glass.
"My father didn't keep this money to get rich," Hannah revealed, her voice filled with quiet, monumental pride. "He kept it to destroy the people who built it."
On the screen, the four billion dollars began to transfer at blinding speed:
TRANSFERRING $1.2 BILLION TO: NEW YORK PUBLIC HOSPITAL MEDICAL DEBT RELIEF. TRANSFERRING $1.0 BILLION TO: QUEENS COMMUNITY HOUSING FOUNDATION. TRANSFERRING $1.0 BILLION TO: MANHATTAN VICTIMS OF ORGANIZED CRIME FUND. TRANSFERRING $1.0 BILLION TO: US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SEIZURE ACCOUNT.
Eleanor Vane let out a blood-curdling scream of pure agony. "NOOOOO! MY MONEY! YOU GAVE IT AWAY!"
"It was never your money," Hannah said smoothly. "And now... neither is your freedom."
The sound of heavy police sirens echoed outside the shipyard. Dozens of federal vehicles swept into the gates, federal agents pouring out with search warrants for the Vane family assets.
Alexander tossed Eleanor onto the floor next to her trembling son.
"Federal agents are coming up the stairs, Eleanor," Alexander said calmly. "You and Trevor will spend the rest of your lives in a federal penitentiary for grand extortion, treason, and conspiracy to murder."
Trevor began to sob uncontrollably, pulling his knees to his chest. "Hannah... please... look at me!"
May you like
Hannah stood beside Alexander, holding her husband's hand tightly. She looked down at Trevor one last time—not with hatred, not with anger, but with complete, indifferent pity.
"I don't see you, Trevor," Hannah said softly. "I never will again."
