Chapter 43 - The EMPA blinding arc of blue electricity violently snapped between the clamps.
The crude EMP generator shrieked, a high-pitched, agonizing whine of raw, uncontained energy. The air in the basement instantly tasted like burnt metal and ozone.
Mateo threw himself backward, shielding his eyes as the device detonated.
It wasn't an explosive blast, but a massive electromagnetic shockwave. The emergency lights in the basement shattered instantly, raining glass down on the concrete floor.
The red light on the biometric scanner flickered violently, turned a sickly yellow, and then died with a pathetic pop.
Silence crashed back into the dark basement.
Mateo scrambled to his feet, pulling a small flashlight from his pocket. He aimed the beam at the vault door.
A heavy, hydraulic hiss echoed in the darkness. The catastrophic failure of the electronic locking mechanism had triggered the mechanical fail-safe.
The massive steel door slowly swung open, a fraction of an inch.
"It worked," Mateo breathed, his heart hammering against his ribs.
He grabbed the edge of the heavy door and pulled it open, stepping into the vault.
It was a small, climate-controlled room. Stacks of bundled US dollars lined the shelves, millions in illicit cash. But Mateo didn't look at the money.
Sitting alone on a pristine velvet pedestal in the center of the room was the black leather ledger.
Mateo snatched it, shoving it securely into his jacket.
"I have the book, Silva!" Mateo yelled into the radio. "I’m moving to exfil!"
He turned to leave, but the flashlight beam caught a shadow moving at the top of the basement stairs.
It was Hector Vargas.
Hector looked entirely unbared, holding a suppressed pistol, staring down at Mateo in the dark. The chaos at the front gates hadn't drawn the cartel boss away; it had warned him that the real target was below.
"I have to admit, Mateo," Hector said smoothly, descending the stairs slowly. "You are incredibly resourceful for a grease monkey. But you are trapped."
Mateo backed into the vault, clutching the ledger. There was no other exit.
"Give me the book, Mateo. And I will make your death quick. I cannot make the same promise for your beautiful wife."
Mateo looked around the vault in absolute desperation. His eyes locked onto the stacks of cash, and then onto the climate control ventilation grate near the ceiling.
"You want to protect your power, Hector?" Mateo shouted, grabbing a massive stack of hundred-dollar bills.
He pulled his lighter from his pocket and struck it, holding the flame to the bundled cash.
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"What are you doing?!" Hector yelled, stopping his descent.
"I’m triggering the fire suppression system!" Mateo yelled back, tossing the burning bundle of money directly into the ventilation intake.
