Her pen scratched against the paper in the quiet room.

I waited in silence, watching her write.

Once she finished, she slid the paper across the desk to me.

“Thank you, Vanessa,” I said, folding the paper and slipping it into my coat pocket.

I left the office and hurried down the back stairs to the basement.

The air down there was cool and smelled of old parchment and damp concrete.

Rows of metal shelving stretched into the shadows, filled with boxes of history.

Lorna was pacing the concrete floor, her face flushed with anger.

Marcus stood near the service elevator, holding a leather briefcase.

“Arthur is already in the boardroom with Helen and Grant,” Lorna said, stopping when she saw me.

“They are preparing the resolution to dissolve the foundation.”

“We have the audit,” I said, holding up the USB drive.

“And we have this.”

I handed Lorna the signed confession from Vanessa.

Lorna read it quickly, her eyes widening.

“This is enough to freeze all their assets immediately,” she said.

“But we need the state authorities to execute it,” Marcus said, checking his watch.