Chapter 3 - The Call and the Plan
The phone rang twice before a deep, authoritative voice answered. "This is Agent Vance."
Chloe took a sharp breath, her eyes locked onto Audrey’s hawk-like gaze. "Marcus," Chloe said, her voice trembling naturally from the pain, playing the part of a defeated wife perfectly. "It’s Chloe. I’m at the house. I’m currently looking over the asset distribution documents for Whitaker Freight Solutions and the residential property transfer."
On the other end of the line, Agent Liam Vance froze. He had been working with Chloe as a confidential informant for six months before her accident stalled the investigation. Hearing her use a fake name and a strained, formal tone immediately triggered his tactical training.
"Chloe? Are you in danger?" Agent Vance asked quietly, already signaling his team to begin tracing the call.
"Yes, the terms are very specific," Chloe replied, her voice steady despite the agony in her leg. "Everything we discussed regarding the ledger from 2024 to 2026 is fully laid out here. The principal parties, Caleb and his mother, are requesting an immediate transfer of all physical and digital holdings. They are standing right here with me in the... storage area, ensuring the paperwork is finalized today."
Audrey smirked, crossing her arms, completely unaware that "storage area" was a location marker and "ledger from 2024 to 2026" was the code for the encrypted drive.
"Understood," Agent Vance said, his voice dropping into a razor-sharp tone of urgency. "I am tracking your location now. We have the warrants pre-signed from the grand jury indictment last week, but we needed physical possession of the secondary server keys or the drive to execute. Do you have the physical drive?"
"Yes, I have completed the review," Chloe said smoothly. "The entire file is secured right here with me. Please let the legal team know that they need to arrive at the property within the hour to witness the signature. I don't think I can hold onto these assets much longer. My health is deteriorating quickly."
"We are moving now, Chloe. Hold on. Do not provoke them," Vance commanded before hanging up.
Chloe lowered the phone and handed it back to Audrey. "They're coming. My representative will be here within forty-five minutes to formally witness and notarize the transfer. Are you satisfied?"
Audrey snatched the phone back, a triumphant grin spreading across her heavily made-up face. "See, Caleb? I told you she was weak. A little cold, a little pain, and these career women fold like cheap cards."
Caleb looked at Chloe, a flicker of something resembling remorse passing over his face, but it was quickly swallowed by his greed. "I’m sorry it had to be like this, Chloe. But you were always too rigid. You didn't understand how the business world actually works."
"Oh, I understand exactly how your business works, Caleb," Chloe said, leaning her head back against the cold wooden leg of the workbench, a ghost of a smile touching her lips. "Better than you could ever imagine."
Audrey picked up the documents. "Come on, Caleb. Let’s leave her here to think about her choices until her 'representative' arrives. Make sure the front gate is unlocked."
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They walked out, slamming the steel door once more. The deadbolt clicked into place.
Chloe let out a long, shuddering breath. Her hands found the inner lining of the old winter coat, her fingers brushing against the cold metal of the ironKey. The trap was set. Now, all she had to do was survive the next forty-five minutes as her body threatened to give in to the overwhelming trauma of her injuries.
