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 8: The Hacker's Counterattack
Jack studied the file in his hands, and a photo of Alicia Claus caught his eye—youthful, radiant, and full of innocence. A top law student at Harvard, deeply involved in public service, her academic papers filled with a strong sense of justice. It was hard to believe that such a girl could be the daughter of a lawyer who served scum like Richard.
"Isabella, where is Alicia Claus now?" Jack asked.
"She should still be at Harvard—it's mid-semester," Isabella replied, walking over to her laptop and typing quickly. "She lives in… here we go, in an apartment near campus called Brewster Apartments."
"Got it," Jack said, standing up and adjusting his coat. "I need to see her as soon as possible."
"Wait, Jack!" Isabella stopped him. "Be careful—he'll have people watching his daughter. If you show up unannounced, you could be spotted."
Jack paused and nodded. "You're right. I need a plan." He walked toward the window, gazing at the towering skyline as he fell deep in thought.
"Here's an idea," Isabella said, stepping beside him. "I know a hacker I can trust. He can break into Claus's phone and computer, check his recent communications and schedule. That way, we can track his movements and avoid direct confrontation."
Jack's eyes lit up. "That's brilliant! You always come through, Isabella. How good is your friend?"
"He's a genius," Isabella smiled confidently. "He once hacked into the Pentagon's servers and almost got arrested by the FBI. Now he works as a cybersecurity consultant—at least officially. He still helps me out sometimes."
"Perfect! Let's call him now," Jack urged.
Isabella picked up her phone and dialed. "Hey, Alex, it's Isabella. I need a favor… hacking into a lawyer's devices… Robert Claus… Yes, as soon as possible… Payment's up to you… Alright, waiting for your message."
After hanging up, she turned to Jack. "Alex says it'll take a few hours. We'll have to wait."
Time ticked slowly by. Jack paced back and forth in the living room, his mind racing with how he would convince Alicia—how he would make her understand that her father was protecting a monster.
Hours later, Isabella's phone rang. She answered, listened for a moment, and a smile spread across her face.
"Jack, Alex did it! He sent all of Claus's recent communications and his schedule."
Jack rushed to the laptop and began scanning the files. He noticed that Claus had been in frequent contact with Richard lately—every conversation short, deliberate, clearly trying to leave no trace.
"It looks like Claus knows exactly how dangerous this is," Jack muttered.
Then, something caught his attention—a scheduled meeting for tomorrow morning: Claus was flying to Boston on a private jet at eight o'clock to attend a legal symposium.
"Isabella, this is our chance!" Jack said excitedly. "Claus is leaving New York tomorrow morning. We can go see Alicia while he's away!"
Isabella nodded. "Let's move."
The next morning, just before dawn, Jack and Isabella drove to LaGuardia Airport. They waited in a nearby café until they saw Claus's private jet take off.
"Let's go, Jack," Isabella said. "Time to meet Alicia."
They drove to Boston in silence. Jack's thoughts were tangled—hopeful that Alicia might help, yet worried about putting her in danger.
A few hours later, they arrived at the Brewster Apartments near Harvard University. It was an old red-brick building, covered in ivy, exuding a quiet academic charm.
Jack took a deep breath and approached the door, pressing the buzzer.
The wait felt endless. His heart pounded louder with each second. Finally, the door opened, revealing a young woman in pajamas, clearly confused.
"Can I help you?" Alicia asked cautiously.
"Miss Alicia Claus, hello," Jack said gently. "We have something important to discuss with you—about your father."
Her face paled instantly. She eyed them warily and tried to shut the door.
"Please, wait!" Jack quickly intervened. "We mean no harm. We only want to tell you the truth—your father is involved in something very dangerous."
Alicia hesitated, then finally left the door open. She looked at them suspiciously. "Who are you? What do you want from my father?"
Jack glanced at Isabella, signaling her to stay alert. Then he stepped forward and began recounting everything—Richard's crimes, Claus's role in covering them up, how Jack had been framed, reduced to a homeless man, and how he had fought his way back.
Alicia listened in stunned silence. She couldn't believe that her beloved father—who she had always seen as honorable—could be working alongside someone so vile.
"This… this can't be real!" she shook her head, refusing to accept what Jack had said. "My father is an honest lawyer. He would never do anything like this!"
"I know it's hard to believe," Jack replied calmly. "But everything I've told you is the truth. I'm willing to show you proof—proof of how your father defends men like Richard, how he helps them escape justice."
He handed her the file Isabella had prepared—evidence of Claus's illegal activities.
With trembling hands, Alicia took the documents and started reading. As she went deeper, her face grew paler, her expression more and more devastated.
"No… this… this is really happening…" she whispered, tears welling in her eyes.
At last, she understood. Her father—the man she had loved and trusted—was complicit in terrible crimes.
"I know this is overwhelming," Jack said softly. "But I hope you'll make the right choice. Your father has gone down a dark path. If you can convince him to turn back, there may still be time to make things right."
Alicia lifted her tear-streaked face to look at Jack. "What… what should I do?"
"Convince your father to tell the truth," Jack said firmly. "Only then can more innocent people be spared. Only then can those responsible be held accountable."
"I… I'll try," Alicia whispered, voice breaking. "I'll do my best."
Jack nodded. He knew Alicia's decision could change everything. And as for himself—he would keep fighting, not just for revenge, but for justice.
The battle was far from over. But the tide was beginning to turn.