Chapter 3 - The Boardroom Connection
The red numbers on the screen ticked downward with terrifying precision.
Nineteen minutes and fifty-nine seconds.
"What happens when that timer hits zero?" Marcus asked, his eyes wide with panic.
I rapidly calculated the train's current speed and the remaining hydraulic pressure.
"The brake calipers will fuse to the wheels from the heat," I explained.
"At this speed, the train will violently derail."
Ethan grabbed his phone from his suit pocket, frantically trying to find a signal.
"I need to call my partners," Ethan muttered, pacing the small space.
"This is going to ruin the merger."
I stared at him, absolutely disgusted by his priorities.
"We are about to die in a high-speed derailment, and you are worried about a corporate merger?" I asked.
The investor who had followed Ethan finally stepped forward from the shadows of the doorway.
His name was Vance, and he wore a tailored suit identical to Ethan's.
"Ethan has every reason to be concerned, Natalie," Vance said smoothly.
Vance did not look panicked at all.
"The company we are buying tomorrow morning is Vanguard Rail Technologies," Vance continued.
I froze.
Vanguard Rail Technologies was the exact contractor responsible for installing the digital braking software on this specific train.
I looked at Ethan, putting the pieces together.
"You knew this train was using Vanguard tech," I said, my voice dropping to a whisper.
Ethan refused to meet my eyes.
"We needed a real-world demonstration of the software for the board," Ethan mumbled.
"You staged a mechanical failure on a passenger train to manipulate stock prices?" I yelled.
Sloane gasped, taking a step away from Ethan.
"You told me this trip was just a standard compliance audit," Sloane said to Ethan.
Ethan glared at Sloane.
"Shut up, Sloane," Ethan snapped.
I stepped between them, my steel-toed boots planting firmly on the floorboards.
"Who severed the physical cooling line, Ethan?" I demanded.
Ethan looked genuinely terrified for the first time.
"I don't know!" Ethan swore.
"It was only supposed to be a minor digital glitch that delayed the train for an hour."
"We hired a contractor to trigger a software bug, not cut the brake lines."
Vance smiled coldly, adjusting his silk tie.
"Sometimes contractors get ambitious, Ethan," Vance said.
I realized with horrifying clarity that Ethan was just a pawn in a much deadlier game.
Vance reached inside his tailored suit jacket and pulled out a suppressed handgun.
"Unfortunately for all of you, this stock shorts completely if the train actually crashes," Vance stated.
May you like
He aimed the barrel directly at my chest.
"Step away from the diagnostic panel, Natalie."
