This air around the warehouse on 5th Street was heavy with tension. Ethan and Frank arrived just as Garrett's car pulled up, and out of it stepped the normally unruffled investigator, now honed by an edge of urgency.
"Victor's people are onto us," Garrett said, handing Ethan a flash drive. "This contains everything we've got so far—financial fraud, offshore accounts, illegal partnerships. But it's not enough to bring him down completely. The ledger is still the key."
"Where is it?" Ethan asked, his voice steady but determined.
Garrett glanced over his shoulder, scanning the area. "His private office in the Kane Tower. Top floor. He's probably moved it into his secured vault by now."
Frank let out a low whistle. "That place is a fortress. Cameras, guards, the works. We're going to need more than guts to pull this off."
Garrett smirked. "Luckily, I have been ready for this. I have blueprints of the tower and a plan to get you in. We'll have to move quick—Victor's probably already shredding evidence."
Ethan nodded. "Then we go tonight."
---
Within hours, the plan was set into motion. Garrett took them to a staging area near the tower and spread out the blueprints on the hood of his car.
"Here's the deal," Garrett said, pointing to the diagram. "The service elevator on the east side bypasses most of the security checkpoints. Once you're inside, you'll have to navigate through the main office floor to get to the executive wing. That's where the vault is. I'll be monitoring the security feeds and looping the cameras wherever I can, but you're going to have to find a way to avoid the guards."
"And the vault?".
Biometric lock," Garrett said. "Fingerprints and retina scan. I was able to get Victor's prints off a glass at one of his events, but the retina scan is tougher. You're going to need his cooperation for that."
Frank smiled. "Cooperation, eh? I think Ethan can be pretty persuasive."
Ethan's face set. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that. What about an exit?
Garrett motioned to a side exit on the plan. "Once you obtain the ledger, take the west stairwell to the parking garage. I'll have a car waiting."
Ethan and Frank looked at each other. It was a lousy plan, but it was their only chance.
By nightfall, they moved into position. Garrett set up his surveillance equipment in a van nearby, while Ethan and Frank approached the east entrance. Ethan's heart thudded, but he steeled himself. This wasn't just about taking down Victor; it was about reclaiming his life.
Inside the tower, the service elevator carried them up to the office floors. Garrett's voice crackled through their earpieces. "You're clear for now. Keep moving."
The office floor was eerily quiet, the hum of air conditioning the only sound. Ethan and Frank moved swiftly, staying low and avoiding the patrolling guards. Garrett's updates guided them through the maze of cubicles and hallways.
"Stop," Garrett hissed. "Two guards ahead. Wait for them to pass."
Ethan and Frank flattened themselves against the wall, holding their breaths as the guards' steps came closer. The time seemed to stretch into eternity before the guards turned a corner and disappeared.
"You are good. Go now," Garrett said.
They made it to the executive wing without any problem. Right before them stood the vault door, a sleek, intimidating barrier of steel and technology. Ethan pulled out the fake fingerprint pad Garrett had prepared for them.
Frank pressed it against the scanner. The lock beeped, and the first light turned green.
"One down," Frank said. "Now for the retina scan."
Ethan's jaw tightened. "Time to find Victor."
---
Victor's office was down at the end of the hall. The door was open, light spilling out into the hallway. Ethan motioned to Frank to stay back and moved forward. Victor was sitting at his desk, talking on the phone. His back was to the door, but his voice told him he was angry.
"I don't care how much it costs," Victor snarled. "Destroy everything that links me to those accounts. I want nothing left by morning."
Ethan stepped inside, his voice cold and steady. "You won't have that long."
Victor spun around, his eyes widening in shock. "You," he spat. "How did you get in here?"
"Doesn't matter," Ethan said, advancing. "We're here for the ledger."
Victor sneered. "You think you can just stroll in and take it? You know nothing about the man to whom you speak."
Ethan grabbed Victor by his collar, lifting him to standing. "Then show me," he replied, pulling Victor toward the vault.
---
With Victor's reluctant cooperation, the retina scan was finished, and the vault door hissed open. Inside, rows of shelves held files, hard drives, and binders. Garrett's voice came through the earpiece. "Look for a black binder labeled 'K-12.' That's the ledger."
Ethan found it quickly, tucking it under his arm. Victor, still seething, glared at him. "You think this changes anything? You're playing a game you can't win.
Ethan met his gaze. "This isn't a game. It's justice."
---
The breakout was not easy. Guards had been alerted, and the tower was on high alert. Garrett led them through the chaos, but they had to fight their way past several obstacles. Frank's brawling skills came in handy, while Ethan's focus on precision strikes kept them moving forward.
By the time they reached the parking garage, the adrenaline was wearing thin. Garrett's car screeched to a halt in front of them, and they piled in. As they sped away, Ethan looked back at the tower, its lights blazing against the night sky.
"We've got him now," Garrett said, glancing at the binder in Ethan's hands. "This is the beginning of the end for Victor Kane."
Ethan slumped back, exhaustion and relief were washing over him. For the first time in months, he felt a glimmer of hope. The chains Vict
or had placed around his life were breaking, and freedom was finally within reach.