Chapter 7 - The Raid
Chaos erupted in the lobby.
Reporters screamed and dove to the marble floor as heavily armed federal agents secured the perimeter.
“Nobody move!” a lead agent shouted, holding up a badge.
I froze, completely stunned.
This was not part of my plan.
The FBI was not supposed to be here.
The lead agent marched directly toward the podium, ignoring the flashing cameras of the bewildered press.
Arthur Callahan looked like he was about to have a genuine heart attack.
“Arthur Callahan, you are under arrest for massive corporate fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud,” the agent declared loudly.
Arthur stumbled backward, his face draining of all color.
“This is a mistake!” Arthur stammered, raising his trembling hands.
“I am stepping down today!”
The agent scoffed, slapping a pair of heavy steel handcuffs onto my father's wrists.
“You’re stepping into a federal holding cell, Mr. Callahan.”
The agents immediately flanked Ryan, cuffing him as well.
Ryan began crying instantly, sobbing and begging for his mother.
Vanessa stepped away from them, her face a mask of perfectly calculated shock.
She looked at Elias Vance, who offered a subtle, approving nod.
I suddenly realized what was happening.
Vanessa and Elias hadn't just planned to blackmail Arthur.
They had tipped off the FBI about Ryan’s embezzlement to ensure Arthur was physically removed from the board before he could contest the hostile takeover.
The server logs on the thumb drive were just a backup plan to force his signature if the feds didn't arrive in time.
The lead agent turned his attention to Vanessa.
“Mrs. Callahan, as the only remaining board member not implicated in the embezzlement scheme, the federal court has granted you temporary emergency receivership of the company assets.”
Vanessa placed a dramatic hand over her heart, playing the role of the devastated but strong matriarch flawlessly.
“I will cooperate fully with the investigation, agent,” Vanessa promised.
“In fact, I am prepared to sign the company over to Apex Global today to ensure our employees do not suffer from my husband's crimes.”
Elias Vance stepped forward, pulling a massive stack of transfer documents from his briefcase.
“Apex is prepared to execute the buyout immediately to stabilize the market,” Elias told the agent.
The agent nodded, uncuffing Arthur’s attorney to allow him to review the paperwork.
The attorney picked up the encrypted tablet, the silver thumb drive still plugged into the port.
I watched with bated breath.
The attorney opened the digital transfer portal to finalize the sale to Apex.
The green light on the thumb drive flashed violently.
The ghost protocol had successfully infiltrated the transaction.
Vanessa signed the documents with a flourish, handing them to Elias.
Elias typed his authorization code into the tablet, finalizing the merger.
“It’s done,” Elias whispered to Vanessa, a triumphant grin spreading across his face.
I stood silently, waiting for the fifty million dollars to route into my company accounts.
I checked my phone, refreshing my banking app furiously.
Nothing happened.
My account balance remained exactly the same.
Panic began to rise in my chest.
Had Leo coded the virus wrong?
Had Apex’s firewall intercepted the payload?
Elias Vance looked down at the tablet, his triumphant grin slowly vanishing.
He tapped the screen furiously.
“What’s wrong?” Vanessa hissed, leaning closer.
Elias’s face went completely pale.
“The funds didn't transfer to the Callahan holding accounts,” Elias stammered.
“The fifty million dollar buyout cash... it’s gone.”
I stared at Elias, realizing the ghost protocol had worked perfectly.
But if the money wasn't in my account, where did it go?
Before I could demand answers, the lead FBI agent turned toward me.
“Emily Callahan?” the agent asked, stepping into my personal space.
“Yes?” I replied, my voice shaking slightly.
The agent pulled a secondary warrant from his jacket.
May you like
“You are under arrest for the theft of fifty million dollars from Apex Global Logistics.”
“We just traced a hostile wire transfer directly to a Caymans account registered in your name.”
