“It makes me expensive.”
Then she disappeared into the smoke.
Shaw waited inside Building Twelve.
Alone.
Of course he did.
Men like him believed the room itself belonged to them.
Clara entered.
He smiled.
“Specialist Vance.”
She closed the door.
“Director.”
“You know who I am.”
“I do now.”
Shaw looked almost disappointed.
“I expected more anger.”
“I’m tired.”
“I’ve read that in your psychological reports.”
Clara’s eyes changed.
“You read my reports?”
“All of them.”
He gestured toward a chair.
“Sit.”
“No.”
“Still stubborn.”
“Still alive.”
He smiled.
“Yes.”
The word carried too much meaning.
Clara stared.
“Why Lucas?”
Shaw’s expression barely moved.
“He became curious.”
“So you killed him.”
“I did not pull the trigger.”
“Coward’s answer.”
“Accurate answer.”
Clara felt something hot move inside her.
She kept it controlled.
“Why the weapons?”
“Influence.”
“To who?”
“Governments. Militias. Partners. Enemies.”
“You armed both sides.”
“Sometimes.”
“Why?”
“Because predictable conflict is manageable.”
Clara stared at him.
Shaw continued.
“Peace is politically unstable. War is economically unstable. Controlled tension is useful.”
“You murdered people to maintain tension.”
“I made decisions above your clearance.”
Clara almost smiled.
“You still think clearance means morality?”
Shaw’s face hardened slightly.
There.
A crack.
Clara understood his weakness.
Not greed.
Not fear.
Certainty.
He needed to believe he was smarter than everyone else.
She stepped closer.
“You made one mistake.”
He smiled.
“Did I?”
“You let Lucas choose the encryption.”
Shaw’s eyes changed.
Very slightly.
Clara saw it.
“You need me.”
“I do.”
“And you think that protects you.”
“Doesn’t it?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because Lucas knew me better than you do.”
Shaw’s smile faded.
Clara reached into her pocket.
She removed Aaron’s waterproof drive.
Shaw stared.
“You have it.”
“Yes.”
Outside, distant gunfire echoed.
Shaw remained calm.
“Unlock it.”
Clara held the drive.
“Let everyone go.”
“No.”
“Then you don’t get it.”
“You misunderstand your position.”
“I understand it perfectly.”
Shaw stepped closer.
“I can hurt every person you brought here.”
Clara’s eyes became colder.
“You already did.”
He studied her.
Then smiled again.
“You won’t destroy it.”
“No.”
“Because you need the truth.”
“Yes.”
“So do I.”
Clara tilted her head.
“Do you?”
His smile disappeared.
For the first time, uncertainty appeared.
Clara continued.
“You don’t know what’s on it.”
“I know enough.”
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“You’ve spent eight months trying to recover a file you’ve never opened.”
Shaw’s jaw tightened.
Clara saw the truth.
He didn’t know.
He only knew Lucas had evidence.
Maybe names.
Maybe accounts.
Maybe more.
Clara whispered, “You’re scared.”
Shaw laughed.
“No.”
“Yes.”
She held up the drive.
“You’re terrified that Lucas found something even you don’t know.”
His face changed.
And Clara knew she had won something.
Not the fight.
But the moment.
Then Shaw said, “Your friend Lucas was not as noble as you think.”
Clara went still.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“The final attempt.”
He smiled.
“You should hear the truth.”
“I already know enough.”
“No.”
Shaw’s voice softened.
“You know Lucas investigated me.”
Clara said nothing.
“You know he built the encryption.”
“Yes.”
“What you don’t know is why.”
Clara felt dread.
Shaw stepped closer.
“Lucas wasn’t collecting evidence to expose the network.”
Clara stared.
“He was building it.”
The words struck hard.
“No.”
Shaw’s smile returned.
“Lucas Dane created the diversion architecture.”
“No.”
“He designed the shell companies.”
“No.”
“He selected intermediaries.”
“You’re lying.”
“He recruited Aaron.”
Clara’s eyes flicked.
That was a mistake.
Shaw saw it.
“Ask him.”
Clara’s heart hammered.
“Why would Lucas give Aaron evidence?”
“Because he wanted leverage.”
“No.”
“Lucas was planning to remove me.”
“No.”
“And take control.”
The room seemed to move.
Clara thought of Lucas.
His jokes.
His loyalty.
His hand on her shoulder after missions.
The man who had once flown halfway across the world to attend Toby-like young operator’s funeral because nobody else from command could.
No.
Shaw watched her.
“He wasn’t a hero.”
Clara whispered, “You’re lying.”
“Unlock the drive.”
“No.”
“And find out.”
That was the trap.
Not physical.
Emotional.
Shaw knew exactly where to cut.
Clara stared at the drive.
Then toward him.
“Fine.”
His eyes sharpened.
She placed the device on the table.
“Bring Aaron.”
Shaw smiled.
Aaron entered five minutes later.
Two armed men escorted him.
His lip was split.
Kaelen was not with him.
Clara looked at Aaron.
“Is Lucas the reason you disappeared?”
Aaron looked at Shaw.
Then at her.
“Yes.”
Something inside Clara cracked.
Shaw smiled.
Aaron continued.
“But not the way he told you.”
Shaw’s expression changed.
Aaron looked directly at Clara.
“Lucas recruited me to investigate Shaw.”
Clara breathed again.
Shaw said, “Careful.”
Aaron ignored him.
“He told me the network had existed before he entered the unit.”
Shaw stepped forward.
“Aaron.”
“He built shell companies.”
Clara’s heart dropped again.
Aaron continued.
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