Chapter 5 - The Wolf's Den
The Hamptons estate was a fortress of marble and glass, perched on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic. The driveway was lined with luxury cars, and security was tighter than a military base.
Using Marcus’s underground contacts, we had forged credentials. I wasn’t Clara Sterling tonight. I was Dr. Elena Rostova, a high-end pediatric specialist hired to evaluate the "merchandise" before the auction. I wore a sleek black evening gown, an emerald necklace, and a blonde wig that completely changed my profile. Hidden in my clutch was a USB injector—a device designed to crack the estate’s server and upload Arthur’s master ledger directly to the Department of Justice.
I stepped out of the hired limousine and approached the gates. Two armed guards scanned my fake ID. The scanner beeped green. My heart was in my throat, but my face remained an icy mask.
“Right this way, Doctor,” the guard grunted.
I walked into the grand ballroom. It was sickening. Men in tuxedos and women in diamonds were sipping champagne, laughing as they examined digital portfolios on iPads. They were browsing children like they were shopping for real estate.
I scanned the room. Standing near a pair of heavy mahogany doors guarded by private military contractors was a man I recognized instantly from Arthur's files.
Chief Elias Vance.
He was older, his hair silver, but his eyes were just as cruel. He was laughing with a senator.
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Stay focused, Clara, I told myself. Find the server room.
According to the blueprints Marcus had acquired, the central network was located in the basement, directly beneath the holding rooms where the children were kept. I slipped away from the main crowd, gliding toward the service hallway.
