“It’s searching the Cayman registry,” I said, my heart beating fast.

The screen flashed.

*Access Denied.*

I stared at the red text, a cold sweat breaking out on the back of my neck.

“What’s wrong?” Adrian asked.

“He changed the secondary authentication protocol,” I muttered.

I stared at the screen, trying to think.

Marcus always used the same pattern for his secondary passwords, based on his old logistics firm’s tax ID.

I entered the alternate code.

The screen flickered.

*Access Granted.*

“I’m in,” I whispered.

I looked at the balance: four point six million dollars.

This was the money he needed to bribe his way out of the country.

I reached for the mouse to initiate the freeze.

Before my finger could click the button, my personal phone on the desk lit up.

The screen showed an incoming video call from an unknown, encrypted number.

I hesitated, looking up at Adrian.

“Answer it,” Adrian said.

I pressed the accept button.

The screen connected, showing a dark interior of a moving car.

Marcus’s face appeared, wet with rain and twisted in anger.

“You think you’re smart, Emily?” Marcus sneered.