Chapter 6 - The Desperate Ploy
The cold metal of Evelyn's pistol rested firmly against Arthur's gray hair.
Leo could not breathe, his mind completely paralyzed by the sudden, crushing betrayal.
"You played your part perfectly, Evelyn," Silas praised, maintaining his grip on Sarah.
"Just give me the money so I can disappear before the federal agents arrive," Evelyn demanded flatly.
Arthur let out a low, dry chuckle that echoed strangely in the tense warehouse.
"What is so funny, old man?" Silas snapped, his finger twitching on the trigger.
"You think I survived thirty years in espionage by being completely unprepared?" Arthur smiled.
Arthur slowly turned his head to look directly at the treacherous Evelyn.
"Check the weight of the ledger tube your man just caught," Arthur suggested calmly.
Silas glanced over at his mercenary, who gave the metal tube a quick, confused shake.
"It is empty, boss," the mercenary announced with genuine panic.
Silas’s face twisted into a mask of pure, unadulterated rage.
"Where is the real ledger?" Silas roared, pressing the gun harder against Sarah's temple.
"I destroyed it five years ago to protect my family," Arthur lied smoothly, holding his ground.
"You are bluffing to save your own miserable life," Silas spat, but doubt flickered in his eyes.
Leo suddenly remembered a small, heavy silver pocket watch Arthur had given him for his birthday.
Arthur had explicitly told him to never, ever open the back casing of the watch.
Leo realized with terrifying clarity that the real data chip was inside his own pocket.
He instinctively reached his hand toward his jeans, but Evelyn noticed the subtle movement.
"The kid has it!" Evelyn shouted, turning her weapon directly toward Leo.
Leo did not think, he simply acted on pure, desperate instinct.
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He threw himself backward, deliberately snapping the red laser tripwire with his foot.
An automated siren blared loudly as the warehouse's explosive sequence immediately initiated.
