Chapter 23 - The Ace in the Hole
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Silas Thorne’s eyes locked onto the diamond brooch in Maya’s hand. The color drained from his face at a terrifying speed. The glass of scotch slipped from his fingers, shattering against the hardwood floor, sending expensive liquor splashing across his polished shoes.
"What is that?" Silas rasped, his voice suddenly sounding very old and very fragile.
"This," Maya said, her voice ringing with triumphant clarity, "is a direct, encrypted live feed. Everything you just said—your confession to my father's murder, the embezzlement, the political bribery—has not only been recorded. It was just broadcast live to the FBI task force sitting in the surveillance van down the street."
Silas stumbled backward, his silver cane clattering to the floor. His untouchable aura shattered into a million pieces.
"You... you set me up!" Silas roared, lunging forward with a sudden burst of desperate violence, his hands reaching for her throat.
Maya didn't even flinch. She stood her ground, her eyes blazing with righteous fury.
Before Silas could take two steps, the heavy door of the VIP lounge was kicked open with explosive force.
"FBI! Freeze! Keep your hands where I can see them!"
Four heavily armed federal agents stormed into the room, their weapons drawn and leveled directly at the billionaire’s chest. Leo was right behind them, holding a digital tablet that displayed the audio waveforms of the confession they had just secured.
Silas froze, his hands trembling in the air. He looked frantically at the armed agents, then back at Maya. The reality of his complete and utter destruction finally set in. The architect of the shadow empire had been outplayed by the very girl he had dismissed as collateral damage.
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"Silas Thorne," the lead agent barked, stepping forward with heavy steel handcuffs. "You are under arrest for conspiracy to commit murder, corporate espionage, and grand financial fraud. You have the right to remain silent."
"I highly suggest you use that right, Silas," Maya said coldly, watching as the federal agents forcefully pinned the old man against the wall and locked the cuffs around his wrists. "Because your words have already sealed your fate."
