I sent the image to the encrypted number Priya had set up for me.

“Received,” Priya’s voice came through Julian’s speaker, clear and sharp.

“I am logging into the gateway now.”

“It is bypass-routing through a server in Switzerland.”

“Give me two minutes to establish a stable connection.”

The room fell completely silent except for the faint sound of the rain against the windowpane.

Celeste sat on the edge of the chair, her knees pressed together, her eyes fixed on the silver USB drive on the table.

“There are folders on that drive too,” Celeste said.

“He has audio recordings of his meetings with the commissioners.”

“He recorded them secretly so they could never betray him.”

Julian nodded slowly, keeping his eyes on his phone.

“Priya, are you in?” Julian asked.

“Almost,” Priya said.

“The firewall is heavy, but the decryption key is working.”

“I am inside the Greenwich terminal directory.”

“Searching for the folder marked ‘Art_Acquisitions’.”

I held my breath, my hand resting on the edge of the glass table.

“I see the main contract file,” Priya said.

“The file name is ‘Whitlock_Luxe_Collection_Transfer_Final.pdf’.”