Chapter 12 - Burn The Network
They had less than six hours.
The files were stored in three locations.
Sarah divided the team.
Matteo went after the financial records.
Alex handled the people connected to the network.
Sarah went after the archive.
The archive was hidden beneath an old private club.
She entered alone.
The room was enormous.
Rows of servers.
Boxes of paper.
Photographs.
Names.
Families.
Secrets.
For a moment, Sarah understood why Meridian had survived so long.
They didn't need weapons.
They had leverage.
Sarah connected the encrypted chip.
The archive began copying.
Then the lights came on.
Victor stood behind her.
“You should have killed me when you had the chance.”
Sarah turned.
“I don't kill people who can testify.”
Victor laughed.
“You think justice is going to save you?”
“No.”
She looked at the files.
“People will.”
Victor attacked.
Sarah fought back.
The struggle was brutal but controlled.
Victor was stronger.
Sarah was faster.
Finally, she trapped his arm and forced him to the floor.
He whispered:
“You'll become exactly what they said you were.”
Sarah looked at him.
“No.”
She stepped away.
“I became someone who chooses.”
Police entered moments later.
Victor was arrested.
Across the city, Meridian's accounts were frozen.
Its files were secured.
Its members were identified.
Evelyn tried to flee.
She was arrested at the airport.
For the first time in decades, Meridian had no place left to hide.
But when Sarah returned to the archive, she found one final folder.
Her own name was written on it.
Inside was a letter from Matteo.
It contained one sentence.
May you like
You don't have to be Sparrow anymore.
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