"Find a way to steal that project n and send it to me."


    Vivian almostughed when she heard Sebastian fall right into her trap. "But that''s a Ramos Corporation secret," she said, trying to sound worried. "Their security is super tight, you know."


    "I don''t care. Figure it out." Sebastian''s voice was cold,pletely merciless. "I already have your parents'' medical records. I know where your brother goes to school, too."


    Vivian''s hands shook from anger. She couldn''t believe the boss of Ratcliff Global would actually stoop to threatening her family like this. If Reese hadn''t arranged for her parents and brother toe back home ahead of time, more horrible things would have happened.


    "...Fine, I''ll try." Her voice was shaky, defeated. "But I need some time. The n isn''t with Reese. I''ll have to wait for a chance to get into her office."


    "You have two hours." Sebastian''s tone was final. "I want results. If I don''t get them, you''ll have to deal with the consequences."


    "Alright," Vivian replied.


    She hung up and stared at her phone, a cold little smile curling at her lips. Without hesitating, she opened her messages, found Reese''s chat, and sent the recording of her call over.


    Night crept in around the old Meyer family house.


    Karter walked toward the house with two tech guys, all three dressed as electricians in blue uniforms, tool bags slung over their shoulders.


    Jose and Danny crouched in the shadows outside, sharing a cigarette while keeping an eye on the front gate.


    "Don''t you think Mr. Meyer''s being a bit too careful?" Danny muttered, hunching his shoulders against the cold. "What''s so special about this old dump?"


    Earlier, they''d called Bailey to report that Hank hade back to the house, but everything had seemed normal. They were about to head out for a drink when Bailey told them to stay put and watch for anyone going in or out, or if Hank left.


    Jose blew a smoke ring and kept his eyes on the gate. "We do what Mr. Meyer says. No questions."


    Through the haze, he spotted three people walking up. He frowned, stood up, and he and Danny moved to block the path.


    "Where do you think you''re going? This is private property. You can''t just walk in."


    Karter nced at a paper in his hand, then at the house number.He kept his tone casual and friendly "Hey this is the address we got There''s a wiring problem inside, and we''re here to fix it."


    Jose and Danny exchanged a look, sizing them up. "Who told you toe fix the wiring?"


    "Someone from inside called for


    repairs," Karter said, pulling out a


    work order and handing it over. "You right? Call in and


    guys are


    ecurity,


    check if you want." He grumbled


    under his breath, "Rich folks and


    their rules."


    Jose took the work order and squinted at it under his phone''s light. Everything seemed legit.


    "Wait here. I''ll check." He pulled out his phone and dialed Duncan. "Hey, Duncan, I just passed by the old house. It looks like the lights are off. Is there something wrong with the power?"


    "You must be seeing things. The lights are fine," Duncan replied. “But the sprinkler system in the back garden is acting up, so I called someone to fix it."


    Jose hung up, nced at Karter and his crew, and nodded. "Go ahead, but don''t wander around. Just get your job done and leave."


    "No problem. Thanks, man," Karter replied with a grin, leading his team inside the old house.