Part 29
Midnight arrived with a heavy, suffocating silence.
The coastal house was completely dark, save for a single lamp burning in the living room.
The rain had started again, a soft tapping against the large glass windows, echoing the rhythm of my racing heart.
I sat in the armchair facing the front door, the black flash drive resting conspicuously on the small table beside me.
At precisely twelve o'clock, the headlights of a large black SUV swept across the living room walls.
The car stopped in the driveway.
A moment later, the heavy front door lock clicked open.
Victor Sterling walked in, shaking the rain from his expensive wool coat. Two massive, armed men in tailored suits stepped in behind him, locking the door.
"You have a beautiful home, Elena," Victor said, his voice dripping with condescending warmth as he walked into the light.
"Quiet. Isolated. A perfect place for a private conversation."
He looked at the flash drive on the table, a triumphant smile breaking across his wrinkled face.
"I see you brought my property back to me. Smart girl."
One of his men stepped forward to grab the drive, but I placed my hand firmly over it.
"You took a photo of my daughter, Victor," I said, my voice completely devoid of emotion.
"That was a mistake. A very big mistake."
Victor laughed, a booming sound that filled the empty house.
"You think you’re in a position to threaten me? Look around you, little girl. You are completely alone. No police, no lawyer, no savior."
"I own the laws in this state. I own the people who enforce them."
"You are nothing but a bug I can crush under my shoe."
I looked up at him, my eyes reflecting the dim yellow light of the lamp.
"I know you own the laws, Victor," I whispered, leaning back into the chair.
"That’s why I didn't send the files to the local police."
"I sent them to Interpol, the federal attorney general, and the front desk of the New York Times exactly one hour ago."
Victor's smile instantly vanished, his face hardening into stone.
"You're bluffing," he growled.
"Am I?" I asked, pulling out my tablet and turning the screen toward him.
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It showed a live countdown timer that had just hit zero, followed by a confirmation message: Transmission Complete. 4.2 Terabytes of Encrypted Data Distributed Globally.
"Check your phone, Victor. The world is about to wake up to your name."
