The cool facade cracked for a fraction of a second.

“You have nothing,” he said.

“I have everything,” Clara said. “I will tell them about the warehouse fire in Loop. I will tell them about the bribed inspectors.”

Agent Miller looked between the two of them.

“This is very interesting,” Miller said. “Let’s move.”

The agents began to escort them toward the glass doors.

Outside, the camera flashes were constant now, reflecting off the wet pavement like strobe lights.

A crowd of onlookers had gathered, held back by two uniform police officers.

I stood near the back of the lobby, watching them go.

Daniel looked back over his shoulder at me one last time.

His eyes were hollow.

He knew his empire was crumbling.

The stock of Hayes Enterprises was likely down even further now.

I looked at my phone again.

The trading halt was official.

The company had lost three billion dollars in market value in thirty minutes.

I walked out of the building through the side exit, avoiding the main press horde.

The cold morning air hit my face, smelling of rain and exhaust.