Chapter 17 - The Chairman's Shadow
The digital forensics laboratory fell into complete silence.
No one took their eyes off the screen.
At the top of the organizational chart, above every name, every payment trail, and every connection, appeared only two words.
The Chairman.
No photograph.
No address.
No known identity.
Chief Mercer slowly folded his arms.
"Has anyone ever identified him?"
Arthur answered before the analysts could.
"Not officially."
Mercer turned toward him.
"You've investigated this organization before."
Arthur nodded.
"For nearly seven years."
"And you never learned who led it?"
Arthur looked at the screen with distant eyes.
"We came close."
He paused.
"Too close."
One of the analysts opened another encrypted document.
The file contained internal memoranda written more than twenty years earlier. Most had been heavily damaged, but several lines remained readable.
Priority Objective: Neutralize Lead Investigation Team.
Another page appeared.
Project Hale remains active until authorization is complete.
Mercer's expression hardened.
"They weren't investigating you."
Arthur quietly corrected him.
"No."
"They were hunting us."
Another analyst suddenly spoke.
"Chief... this document was modified only three days ago."
The room became tense.
Someone inside the organization had continued updating files long after Arthur retired.
Long after the original investigation had supposedly ended.
Mercer looked toward Arthur.
"You were never the target because of what you are today."
Arthur nodded slowly.
"I remained the target because of what I knew yesterday."
Before anyone could continue, the laboratory lights flickered.
Then every monitor went black.
Power failure.
Emergency lights immediately illuminated the room in deep red.
The analysts exchanged nervous looks.
One technician checked the server.
"Chief..."
"What?"
"This wasn't a power outage."
He stared at the disconnected network cable lying on the floor.
"Someone physically disconnected our secure system."
Every officer instinctively looked toward the laboratory door.
It stood slightly open.
May you like
Someone had been inside the hallway only moments earlier.
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