Outside the building, the night air felt sharp.
Ethan paced in frustration while Maya leaned against the wall, finally exhaling after holding her breath for too long.
Claire stood apart, silent.
"You saw what she did," Ethan said angrily. "Olivia framed us perfectly."
Maya nodded slowly.
"She expected us to panic. That's why she acted so confident."
Ethan frowned.
"So what now?"
Maya reached inside her jacket.
And pulled out the flash drive.
Ethan froze.
"You still have it?"
Maya nodded.
"They didn't search me properly."
Claire's eyes widened.
"If they find that—"
"They won't," Maya interrupted.
Ethan looked at the drive.
"So what's inside?"
Maya's voice lowered.
"Everything Olivia is hiding."
A long silence followed.
Then Ethan spoke.
"We can't use this alone. We need backup."
Maya already had a plan.
"I know someone."
That night, they met Lina.
A cybersecurity analyst working in digital forensics.
Lina examined the files carefully, her eyes scanning rapidly across multiple screens.
Then she stopped.
"This is not just corporate fraud," Lina said slowly.
Ethan leaned forward.
"What do you mean?"
Lina pointed at the screen.
"These transactions don't stay inside one company. They connect to offshore accounts, shell companies… and international transfers."
Claire swallowed.
"So she's stealing money?"
Lina shook her head.
"No."
Her expression darkened.
"This is laundering. Large-scale. Organized."
Maya felt a chill.
"Who is behind it?"
Lina hesitated.
"That's the problem."
She turned the screen.
One central name appeared repeatedly in encrypted form.
UNKNOWN INVESTMENT GROUP.
Ethan frowned.
"We can expose Olivia then."
Lina shook her head again.
"Olivia is not the top."
Silence.
Then Lina added:
"She might be just a pawn."