Chapter 3 - THE WOLF IN THE STUDY
Downstairs in the mahogany-paneled study, Gregory Pike was rubbing his eyes in fatigue, staring at the glowing dual monitors of his laptop. Rows of complex financial algorithms and wire-transfer confirmations scrolled across the screen.
"Just another ten million," Pike muttered to himself, taking a sip of scotch from a crystal tumbler. "Once this final batch clears, Caldwell won't even have enough cash left to buy a cup of coffee. We’ll be in Zurich by tomorrow night."
He reached for his mouse to authorize the transfer.
Clack.
The study door, which Pike was certain he had locked from the inside, slowly swung open.
Pike frowned, looking up from his monitors. "Vanessa? I told you not to come down here while I’m executing the final bridge. If the servers—"
He stopped dead.
Standing in the doorway was Julian Caldwell.
Pike’s glass slipped from his fingers, shattering against the Persian rug, the amber liquid pooling like blood across the fabric. Color vanished completely from Pike’s face, leaving him looking like a corpse in a tailored suit.
"J-Julian?" Pike choked out, his hands flying instinctively toward his keyboard in a desperate attempt to hit the emergency data-wipe sequence. "You... you're supposed to be in Seattle! The federal investigators said you wouldn't be released until—"
Before Pike’s finger could touch the keyboard, a heavy tactical boot slammed down onto the mahogany desk, crushing the laptop screen into a spiderweb of splintered glass and sparks.
Julian leaned over the desk, his hands braced against the wood, bringing his face inches from Pike’s trembling nose.
"You were saying, Gregory?" Julian asked softly.
Pike opened his mouth, but no sound came out. The sheer, overwhelming aura of violence radiating from Julian made it impossible to breathe.
"Where is she?" Julian demanded.
"W-Who?"
"My daughter."
"Upstairs! The second-floor nursery! She’s fine, I swear to God, we didn't touch her—"
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Julian didn't wait to hear another word. He grabbed Pike by the expensive lapels of his suit, hoisted him effortlessly out of his chair, and threw him against the oak bookshelves with enough force to shatter three rows of leather-bound law books. Pike collapsed onto the floor, groaning in agony as blood trickled from his nose.
Julian turned his back on the cowering accountant and strode out of the study, taking the grand staircase two steps at a time.
