Chapter 31 - The Extraction
Extracting a victim from a high-security environment requires absolute precision. We couldn't rely on the local police; Victor had too much influence and too many people on his payroll. We had to use our own tactical team.
Eleanor’s only unmonitored window was her Tuesday physical therapy appointment. At exactly 10:00 AM, Eleanor walked into the clinic in downtown Chicago. Two of Victor's private security contractors sat in a black SUV parked across the street, watching the entrance.
Chloe and I were in our command center, monitoring the street via city traffic cameras we had quietly tapped into.
"The hounds are in position," Chloe noted, watching the SUV. "They think she is trapped in the clinic for the next hour."
"Execute the ghost protocol," I ordered.
Inside the clinic, Eleanor walked into her private treatment room. The physical therapist, who was a trusted ally of The Phoenix Initiative and well-compensated for her silence, immediately locked the door. She handed Eleanor a set of scrubs and a medical mask.
Within two minutes, Eleanor was dressed exactly like one of the clinic's nurses. She walked out the back delivery entrance, keeping her head down. A non-descript medical supply van was idling in the alleyway. Eleanor climbed into the back, and the van immediately drove away.
"Target secured," the driver’s voice cracked over our radio. "We are en route to the safe house."
I let out a tense breath. "Good work. Now, Chloe, let's give Victor a distraction so he doesn't notice she's missing until she is safely out of state."
I picked up the secure phone line and dialed the direct number for Arthur, who was standing inside the federal courthouse. "Arthur, Eleanor is clear. Drop the hammer."
Arthur smiled on the other end of the line. "With pleasure."
At exactly 10:15 AM, Arthur filed an emergency, ex parte motion for a federal asset freeze, armed with the decrypted shadow ledger. The judge, horrified by the clear evidence of massive financial fraud and coercive control, signed the order instantly.
Within ten minutes, every single domestic and international bank account tied to Victor Vance was frozen. His credit cards were deactivated. His corporate access codes were suspended.
The emperor was suddenly, violently stripped of his gold.
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"He is going to lose his mind when his card declines at lunch," Chloe laughed, leaning back in her chair.
"Let him," I said coldly. "He is about to learn what it feels like to be completely powerless."
