Chapter 18 - The Defector
While Emily worked relentlessly on the decryption algorithms, Sarah received a distress signal via GFI's anonymous communication channel. This channel had been created by Emily to protect whistleblowers.
The contact identified himself as Mateo, a mid-level accountant working at VerdeCorp's headquarters in Mexico City. Mateo had realized the truth about the rare earth mines and could no longer bear the guilt. He was in possession of the original ledger—the only physical evidence that hadn't been digitized, detailing the bribes paid to local officials.
"Thorne is suspecting an inside leak," Mateo messaged via a self-destructing text. "If I don't hand this ledger over today, I'm a dead man."
