👉 Previous Decision: A lightning strike triggered the central system to broadcast the master tapes across every loudspeaker in the facility.
The voice of Marcus Halstead, echoing through every speaker, left a stunned silence in its wake. Federal Agent Harrison Drew, who had been reviewing documents in Marcus’s office, emerged into the main corridor, his face a thundercloud. He held the folder Evelyn had delivered, its contents now glaringly obvious.
He waved the papers, the photocopies of the offshore transactions fluttering in his hand. “These ‘Overseer’ quarterly reports,” he announced, his voice cutting through the silence. “Specifically, the $200,000 retainer for Mr. Arthur Pendelton, routed through an offshore account in the Cayman Islands.”
His gaze swept over the assembled, shocked employees, lingering on Marcus. Marcus stood rigid, his face pale, a vein throbbing in his temple. Silas Gable, cowering near his office door, looked as if he might faint.
“And these recordings,” Agent Drew continued, his voice rising, “detail a systematic scheme of memory suppression, industrial espionage, and financial fraud. Coordinated by Mr. Marcus Halstead, Executive VP of AetherTech.”
Marcus finally moved. He lunged forward, a desperate, animalistic roar tearing from his throat. “This is a fabrication! A hack! A setup!”
Two federal agents, who had been blending in among the staff, moved swiftly, grabbing Marcus by both arms. He struggled, but their grip was iron.
“We also have documented conversations regarding ‘Project Nightingale’ protocols,” Agent Drew stated, pulling another document from the folder. “And confirmation of the acoustic frequencies used to deliberately erase the memories of AetherTech employees, specifically Mr. Pendelton.” He looked at me, a flicker of something that might have been admiration in his stern eyes.
Silas Gable, seeing Marcus restrained, made a pathetic attempt to slip away. But another agent was already there, blocking his path. Silas whimpered, his hands rising in a futile gesture of surrender.
“Marcus Halstead and Silas Gable,” Agent Drew declared, his voice ringing with authority. “You are under arrest for conspiracy, fraud, and the illegal use of classified technology for personal gain.” He paused, letting his words hang in the air. “And for crimes against the individual. Specifically, Mr. Arthur Pendelton.”
The corporate floor erupted in a flurry of hushed whispers and gasps. Employees stared, some in disbelief, others in a horrified daze. Marcus, his face contorted with rage, was led away, still shouting incoherent threats. Silas, trembling violently, followed, his head bowed.
The air in AetherTech, once thick with secrets and the insidious hum of memory suppression, now felt starkly, terrifyingly clear. The reckoning had arrived.
➡️ Read CHAPTER 12 to continue the story.
+ There are no comments
Add yours