Volume 9: Showdown on Wall Street
Synopsis: Jack has gathered enough evidence to launch his final strike against Richard's true mastermind. He will use every resource at his disposal to drag the hidden sins into the light of day.
Chapter 4: Regulatory Intervention
The front page of The New York Observer had exploded like a bomb, sending shockwaves through Wall Street and alerting regulatory bodies across the country. In their dimly lit command center, Jack and his allies felt an unprecedented mix of tension and excitement.
Chloe paced back and forth, her face showing signs of exhaustion from countless sleepless nights, yet glowing with the thrill of victory. "They've moved! They really have! SEC officials are already at Bell Group headquarters, sealing off all entrances and exits. The FBI is reportedly en route!"
Rat took a long drag from his cigarette, smoke swirling around him as he wore a grave expression. "Don't get too optimistic, Jack. These guys aren't amateurs. Richard is just a pawn. The big fish hasn't shown its face yet, and they'll fight back viciously."
"Rat's right," Jack said, approaching the whiteboard and scanning the photos before settling his gaze on Richard Bell's slick, smug face. "Richard is now expendable. His puppet master won't let him live to talk. We need to find key witnesses who can identify the real culprit before it's too late."
Kevin sat at his computer, fingers flying over the keyboard. "I'm monitoring all of Richard Bell's communications—his phone, office lines, even his private jet. Any unusual activity, and I'll notify you immediately."
Suddenly, Kevin's expression darkened. "Jack, I intercepted an encrypted message. The sender is unknown, and it was addressed to Richard Bell. The content has been deleted, but I traced the protocol—it was encrypted using the 'Phoenix Key.'"
"The Phoenix Key?" Jack frowned. The name resonated deeply, reinforcing his suspicion that the Phoenix Group was linked to the shadowy figure behind everything. "Can you decrypt it?"
Kevin shook his head. "The Phoenix Key is an extremely sophisticated encryption algorithm. It'll take time. But I can trace the origin of the communication."
At that moment, Rat abruptly stood up and walked to the window, pulling the curtains shut. "Something's wrong, Jack. I feel like we're being watched."
Jack's heart sank. He cautiously pulled back the curtain slightly and peered outside. Across the street, a black sedan sat silently, windows tinted, concealing its occupants.
"They're here faster than expected," Jack muttered. "Looks like we've been marked."
"What do we do, Jack?" Chloe asked nervously.
"Stick to the plan," Jack said, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "Chloe, keep in touch with The New York Observer, ready to publish follow-up reports. Kevin, focus on tracing the encrypted message. Rat, tighten security and protect us. I'm going to see someone."
Jack grabbed his coat and left the makeshift office. He needed to find Emily Browning, Richard Bell's ex-girlfriend. Once one of Richard's most trusted confidantes, she might know secrets about the puppet master behind the scenes.
Emily now lived in a small apartment in Brooklyn, having resigned from Bell Group after the scandal broke, leading to a significant fall from grace. Jack arrived at her door, took a deep breath, and knocked.
A haggard-looking woman opened the door—Emily. Her eyes flickered with mixed emotions upon seeing Jack.
"Jack? What are you doing here?" Emily's voice was hoarse, her eyes wary.
"Emily, I know you know things about Richard, secrets about his puppet master," Jack stated bluntly. "We're running out of time. I need your help."
Emily hesitated, then stepped aside, letting Jack in. The apartment was cluttered, clothes and magazines strewn about. She poured two glasses of water from an empty bottle.
"I know Richard did many bad things," Emily sighed, her eyes dimming. "But I genuinely don't know about any puppet master."
"Emily, think about the life you once had," Jack urged gently. "Think about how Richard deceived and used you. Are you willing to let him destroy your life without fighting back?"
Emily's eyes darted, clearly torn by inner conflict.
"There was this offshore account Richard had, filled with substantial funds," Emily finally admitted. "It was called the 'Phoenix Fund.' I overheard him talking to someone about it, mentioning it was for 'emergencies.' But I never met the person; Richard was always careful to keep me away from such matters."
"Phoenix Fund?" Jack felt a jolt. This matched the Phoenix Key Kevin had mentioned. "Do you have any documents or information related to this account?"
Emily shook her head. "No, Richard never let me near his finances. But I know he frequently communicated with someone from a law firm named 'Claus & Smith.'"
"Claus & Smith…" Jack noted the name mentally. "Emily, thank you. Your information is invaluable."
Leaving Emily's apartment, Jack felt a heavier burden. They were getting closer to the truth, but also deeper into danger. Richard Bell's puppet master was far more powerful and cunning than he'd imagined.
Meanwhile, SEC investigators were conducting a thorough search of Bell Group headquarters. They uncovered numerous irregularities and financial discrepancies, but found no direct evidence of the Phoenix Fund.
Lead investigator Mary Walsh, a seasoned professional, scrutinized the documents before her, brows furrowed. She knew there was a larger conspiracy behind Richard Bell's crimes.
"Keep searching! Leave no stone unturned!" Mary barked at her team. "We must expose the darkness lurking beneath the surface!"
Elsewhere, in the shadows, a hidden figure coldly observed these developments…