"You... you found him? My God... I... I don't know how to thank you..."Her voice broke into a sob. Ethan could be heard in the background, a muffled, childish cry that quickly faded into a contented sniffle.
"No need for thanks. My job is to make sure the truth comes out. But we need to talk about why, Ms. Jenkins."Daniel kept his tone direct, without evading. He knew her vulnerability was momentary, and that he needed to capitalize on it to understand the depth of her involvement.
There was a pause on the other end, and Sarah's voice changed, a note of caution mixing with relief."Why? I... I don't understand. They wanted money? A ransom?"
"It wasn't about money for them, Ms. Jenkins. It was about silencing you. Your son was used to coerce you. The kidnapping was retaliation. For something you discovered in your work at OmniCorp Analytics."Daniel watched Sarah's reaction. Her eyes widened, and the color drained from her face. She glanced quickly at Detective Miller, who stood a few feet away from her, his back turned, talking to another officer.
"I... I don't know what you're talking about,"she replied, her voice now a thread, denying, but the denial sounded forced, full of fear.
"Don't lie to me, Ms. Jenkins. I know what you saw. The accounting discrepancies. The transfers to shell companies in the Cayman Islands. The anomalous payments to 'security' companies like Aegis Solutions. Aegis Solutions isn't just a contractor, Ms. Jenkins. They're the operational arm of a vast money laundering network, operating under the guise of OmniCorp. You uncovered this. And they kidnapped your son to ensure your silence."Daniel poured out the information at a steady pace, letting each word weigh on her. He could see the confirmation on her face, even through a distant video feed. Her fear was no longer fear for Ethan's safety, but fear for what would come next for her.
Sarah took a deep, shaky breath."How... how do you know all this? No one... I haven't told anyone. I just... I just started connecting the dots a few weeks ago. Little things, out of place. Strange transfers to Aegis. I thought it was just corporate fraud, maybe. But when I started digging deeper, I saw it was much bigger. I was scared. I didn't know who to trust."His voice was thick with suppressed panic.
"It doesn't matter how I know. What matters is that you're in danger. And your son was in danger because of you. Aegis Solutions won't stop because their henchmen have been arrested. They're an organization with deep ramifications. You're a witness. A threat."Daniel didn't sugarcoat the pill. The truth, however brutal, was necessary.
"What do I do now? Will they... will they come after me?"Sarah cried, desperation returning to her voice.
"Yes, they will come. But I've already deployed the necessary resources. The FBI is already aware of the depth of Aegis Solutions' involvement. You need to cooperate fully with them. Tell them everything you know. Every detail. They will protect you and your son. But you must be 100 percent honest, Ms. Jenkins. Don't hold anything back. Your lives depend on it. And my ability to dismantle this network depends on your truth."Daniel concluded, his voice like an ultimatum.
"I will... I will do whatever it takes. I just want my son safe,"Sarah murmured, her voice filled with a new determination, born of terror.
"Good. Stay safe, Mrs. Jenkins. Take care of your son."Daniel ended the call, his headset returning to silence. The conversation had been productive. He had confirmation, and Sarah Jenkins would be his gateway to the full truth.
With a new sense of urgency, Daniel changed his interface again. Using afast and precise tapping on your holographic keyboard, activated the secure line to FBI Director Vance. There was no time to waste. Director Vance's figure, stern and imposing even on an encrypted call, materialized on one of the main monitors. Vance seemed more tense than on the previous call, his eyes fixed on a digital report that Daniel could assume was the evidence he had just sent.
"Director Vance,"Daniel began, without preamble, his voice icy."The boy Ethan is safe. The LAPD arrested the kidnappers at the warehouse I indicated. Marcus Thorne is in custody."
Vance nodded, the gravity on his face not diminishing."We received the report. Excellent work, Ghost. Once again, you gave us what we needed. My men are already on site, securing custody. But... Aegis Solutions. This is a whole other level. My intelligence team is buzzing with the files you sent. This is a wormhole. A disaster."Vance's voice was a low growl.
"It's worse than a wormhole, Director. It's a web. And the web hangs from OmniCorp Analytics. The boy's mother, Sarah Jenkins, is a senior accountant there. She discovered massive discrepancies in the accounts, money being laundered on an industrial scale through shell companies in tax havens, all linked to land acquisitions in strategic areas. Aegis Solutions isn't just a 'security' contractor for these projects, Director. They're the enforcement arm. They're the muscle that ensures no one interferes. Ethan was kidnapped to silence Sarah. To prevent her from revealing the truth. It was a show of force, a direct threat."Daniel laid out the situation with brutal clarity, OmniCorp's vast data network pulsing across his monitor, displaying the visual connections he was describing.
Vance closed his eyes for a moment, a rare gesture of weariness or overwhelm."Good heavens. This is... this extends to how many billions? And who's at the top of this? OmniCorp has connections to... do you understand the implications of this, Ghost? Governments, publicly traded corporations. If this comes to light, it could destabilize entire economies."The Director's voice had a tone of wonder.
"I understand perfectly, Director. And that's why things are getting worse by the minute. Ethan was just a pawn, a message for his mother. But this money laundering network, this influence... it extends to every level of society. Very powerful people are protecting this operation. And they won't stop because of a local arrest of a few henchmen."Daniel stated, his gaze fixed on the connection graph.
"You're right. Aegis Solutions has tentacles everywhere. Their contracts with the Department of Defense, with the Department of Energy... This could be a scandal that would make Watergate look like a street brawl,"Vance pondered, his voice becoming more calculated."We need more. We need irrefutable evidence connecting OmniCorp's leadership to this. And the entire Aegis chain of command."
"I'm already on top of this, Director. Sarah Jenkins could be a key witness. She's scared, but now that her son is safe, she's willing to cooperate fully. I've instructed her to tell Detective Miller and you everything. She's your best chance to get from the bottom to the top."Daniel offered the way.
"Understood. My Special Operations team is already mobilizing for Seattle. And I will ensure the protection of Mrs. Jenkins and her son 24/7. Ghost... I owe you one, Director. This time, I owe you. Because the boy was innocent. If it were the mother, I wouldn't make such a fuss."Daniel made the statement, his voice dropping a notch, the implication hanging in the air. The mother had put herself at risk with her actions, but the child was a pure victim. This distinction, for Daniel, was crucial.
Vance looked at the screen, his eyes serious."Your moral compass is peculiar, Ghost, but effective. We're in this together. Keep me informed. Don't risk more than necessary. This is a very dangerous network."
"I always take risks, Director. But now that I know the 'why,' I won't stop. This net will fall."Daniel ended the call, Vance's final words echoing in the room. He leaned back in his chair, the lights of New York City twinkling through the windows, a stark contrast to the darkness he had just unearthed. The game, indeed, had only escalated. The "why" had been answered, but the "how" and "who" were still labyrinths to be unraveled. He would not stop until every knot in that web was unraveled.
Daniel leaned back in his personal cockpit chair, the lights of New York City flickering indifferently outside. The conversation with Vance had driven another wedge into his understanding of the rot that ate away at the very core of power. But the investigation wouldn't end with Marcus Thorne's arrest or Sarah Jenkins's cooperation. There were much deeper tentacles, faces hidden in the shadows, that needed to be exposed. OmniCorp's money laundering network, its partnership with Aegis Solutions, pointed upward, to the very apex of the pyramid, to those who orchestrated the movements of billions and controlled lives as if they were pawns.
His fingers flew across the holographic keyboard, the data panels reshaping into new constellations. Daniel didn't linger. The next target was thePentagon Chief of StaffNot just any general, but the man at the top of the military hierarchy, with access to all contracts and secret operations, and whose silence or connivance would be vital to the perpetuation of schemes like Aegis. Daniel had already cross-referenced data from secret meetings, "untraceable" fund transfers, and intelligence reports that pointed to a shadowy partnership between certain factions within the Pentagon and security companies like Aegis.
The encrypted line opened. The face of the Head of State, a man in his early forties with tired eyes and a posture of forced authority, materialized on the monitor. He looked as if he had just been awakened.
"Ghost,"The Chief's voice was deep, but filled with a surprise bordering on fright. He knew who Ghost was, or at least what he represented. The legends whispered in the safest corridors of power.
"Mr. Chief,"Daniel replied, his voice neutral, devoid of any courtesy."I have urgent information about Aegis Solutions. And the extent of its 'partnership' with certain government entities you represent."
The Chief blinked, his expression hardening."I don't know what you're talking about. Aegis Solutions is a legitimate contractor..."
"Legitimate? The kidnapping of an innocent child to silence an accountant who uncovered a trillion-dollar money laundering scheme disguised as land acquisitions by a company called OmniCorp Analytics is what you call legitimate?"Daniel snapped, his voice holding the same icy temperature, but the words were like ice bullets."I have the proof, Mr. Chief. Every transaction, every communication log between OmniCorp and Aegis. The money trails lead to offshore accounts that are linked to high-ranking officials, including within your own department. And I've sent it to FBI Director Vance. He's already mobilizing resources."
The Head of State's face paled. His rigid posture faltered. He knew Ghost wasn't bluffing. The information, if true, would be a bombshell."That... that's a serious accusation, Ghost. If what you say is true..."
"It's the truth, Mr. Boss. And the implications are devastating. For Aegis. For OmniCorp. And for anyone protecting this operation. My advice is that you end this 'partnership' immediately and unconditionally. Cut all ties, freeze all funds, and report everyone involved. Otherwise, when this bomb explodes, it will take many with it. People you supposedly protect."Daniel didn't suggest, he instructed. It was a veiled ultimatum, delivered with the certainty of one who held real power.
The Head of State swallowed hard, his eyes drifting to some invisible point in his office. The view revealed a sober environment, with the American flag in the background and an imposing mahogany desk. He knew he was cornered."I... I will look into this immediately. Ensure all corrective measures are taken. Thank you... for letting me know."The gratitude sounded hollow, forced by the implied threat.
"Thank you for your 'understanding', Mr. Boss."Daniel ended the call, the Chief's face freezing on the screen before disappearing.
The next encrypted line was already ready. Onequick command on your holographic keyboardsent the signal to the office ofAttorney GeneralThe figure that appeared on the monitor was that of a middle-aged woman, with gray hair impeccably styled in a bun, piercing eyes, and an expression of shrewd intelligence. She was known for her integrity and her iron grip on law enforcement.