I looked back at Daniel, who was shaking his head slowly.

“He is lying, boss,” Daniel whispered.

“If you sign those papers, we are dead anyway.”

“He cannot leave witnesses who know the layout of the Atlantic City routes.”

I kept my hand on the intercom button.

“And if I refuse?” I asked.

“Then we dump three canisters of industrial freon into the intake pipe,” Caleb said.

“It will sink to the floor of your vault in ten minutes.”

“You will all go to sleep, Adrian.”

“Even the little girl.”

Nora gasped and pulled Lila tighter into her arms.

“You wouldn’t do that to a child, Caleb,” I said, my voice dropping an octave.

“You knew her when she was born.”

“I am a businessman, Adrian,” Caleb said.

“You taught me that yourself.”

“Sentiment is for people who cannot afford to pay their debts.”

“You have five minutes to open the digital ledger on your phone and initiate the transfer.”

“The account number is already in your pending folder.”

The intercom went silent, leaving only the steady hum of the air filtration unit.