Chapter 5 - The Safehouse in the WoodsThe old hunting cabin thirty miles north of the city smelled of cedar, old dust, and damp earth. It was a property Arthur’s grandfather had built decades ago—a place completely off the grid, unlisted on any modern tax registry, and invisible to digital surveillance networks.
Maya and Leo were fast asleep on an old plaid sofa, wrapped in scratchy wool blankets. Arthur sat at a rustic wooden table by the flickering light of a single kerosene lantern, staring at the open lockbox and the terrifying USB drive.
The digital trail was clear, but raw files wouldn't be enough to take down Richard Sterling. Sterling Enterprises owned judges, politicians, and half the municipal police department. If Arthur walked into a local precinct with a thumb drive, it would likely end up in a shredder before the desk sergeant even looked at it.
He needed leverage. Public exposure.
Arthur pulled out his encrypted satellite phone—a relic from his past life as a cybersecurity contractor for international defense audits—and dialed a string of numbers he hadn't used in five years.
After three long rings, a raspy, sleep-deprived voice answered. "State your clearance code or hang up."
"Project Janus is active, Marcus," Arthur said calmly. "And the shadow corporation has local branches."
A sharp intake of breath hissed through the receiver. "Arthur? Is that you? We thought you went off the grid after the Seattle fallout. Word on the street is you married into the Sterling dynasty."
"The Sterling dynasty just tried to wipe out my family," Arthur replied coldly. "I need you to pull every financial transaction, offshore shell company, and property transfer associated with Richard Sterling and his daughter Victoria over the past ten years. I want everything exposed by sunrise."
"Man, you're kicking a sleeping dragon," Marcus warned, though the sound of keyboard clacking immediately filled the background. "The Sterlings own half the judicial system. If we strike, we have to make sure it hits every major news network simultaneously so they can't bury it."
"Make it happen, Marcus. Spare no expense."
May you like
Arthur hung up the phone and looked toward the corner where Maya and Leo slept. A cold resolve settled in his chest. Victoria thought she held all the cards. She thought her name and money made her untouchable.
She had no idea the game had just changed.
