Chapter 6 - The Inside Job
I stared at the empty steel safe, completely unable to comprehend what was happening.
Marcus was the only person in the world who knew the combination to that vault.
"How is this possible?" I demanded, my voice rising over the blaring sound of the fire alarm.
Marcus ran his hands nervously through his hair, his eyes darting frantically around his own office.
"I swear to you, I put them in there myself yesterday afternoon," Marcus pleaded defensively.
I looked closely at the edges of the safe and noticed a tiny, blinking red light hidden near the hinge.
Someone had planted a microscopic surveillance camera inside the office to steal the combination code.
Vanessa’s corporate espionage skills were far more advanced and dangerous than I had ever anticipated.
"They have the real documents, Marcus," I realized, feeling a suffocating wave of despair wash over me.
"They can legally transfer everything, and Julian can still send me to prison for embezzlement."
The heavy office door suddenly burst open, making both of us jump backward in shock.
It was not the police officers returning from the fire evacuation.
It was Sarah, holding a suppressed pistol and pointing it directly at Marcus's chest.
"Hand over the laptop right now," Sarah demanded, her voice cold and entirely devoid of emotion.
I pulled the laptop bag securely behind my back and glared at the woman who used to be my sister.
"Why are you doing this, Sarah?" I asked, desperately trying to stall for time.
Sarah laughed bitterly, keeping her finger firmly pressed against the trigger of the gun.
"Because Julian promised me half of your father's estate if I helped him get rid of you," she sneered.
Marcus slowly raised his hands in the air and took a brave step between me and the weapon.
"You are not going to shoot a senior partner in a law firm," Marcus warned her with a steady voice.
Sarah did not even blink before she pulled the trigger.
The suppressed gunshot sounded like a sharp cough, and Marcus collapsed onto the expensive carpet, clutching his bleeding shoulder.
I screamed in horror and dropped to my knees to press my hands against his bleeding wound.
"The laptop," Sarah repeated, stepping closer and aiming the hot barrel of the gun directly at my forehead.
I had absolutely no choice left but to surrender the only leverage I possessed.
I slowly slid the leather bag across the floor until it rested at her expensive designer shoes.
Sarah smiled triumphantly, picked up the bag, and began backing out of the office.
"Julian is waiting for me at the bank to finalize the wire transfers," Sarah gloated cruelly.
"You have exactly twenty minutes before you are completely destitute and wanted for grand larceny."
She slammed the door shut, locking me inside the office with a bleeding man.
I ripped the sleeve of my jacket off and tied it tightly around Marcus's shoulder to stop the bleeding.
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"Go," Marcus coughed, pushing my hands away with his remaining strength.
"You have to get to the bank and stop that transfer before the money leaves the country."
