"Ninety seconds," Vincent said, his voice carrying the lethal calm she'd learned to recognize. "Whatever you're going to do, do it now."
Yvette's hands moved across multiple keyboards with focused intensity. For fifteen years, she'd been dismantling financial criminals after they'd committed their crimes. Tonight, she was conducting real-time warfare against an active criminal operation.
"First target: their funding," she announced, executing commands that sent automated seizure orders to banks across three countries. "If I can freeze Curtis's operational accounts..."
Her screens filled with confirmation messages as federal seizure orders activated simultaneously. Curtis's mercenaries, helicopter extraction team, and safe house operators would find their payments frozen within minutes.
Through the intercepted communications, confusion immediately spread through Curtis's network.
"Sir, the extraction team is demanding immediate payment," Curtis's security chief reported. "The bank transfers aren't processing."
"What do you mean they're not processing?" Curtis's voice carried the first hint of panic.
"His escape plan just collapsed," Vincent said with grim satisfaction, watching Yvette work from behind her chair.
"That's just the beginning." Yvette activated systems she'd spent hours preparing. "Second target: evidence distribution."
Real-time data streams launched simultaneously to fifty different recipients. News outlets, congressional committees, military prosecutors, international law enforcement agencies—all receiving identical evidence packages that painted a complete picture of RareCore's conspiracy.
"Every major news network in the world just received comprehensive evidence of the fraud, the congressional corruption, and the soldier deaths," she said, watching confirmation messages flood her screens. "This isn't just a federal investigation anymore. It's global exposure."
"Ma'am, international news networks are breaking the story," Agent Bates reported through her radio. "The entire conspiracy is going public in real-time."
Through Curtis's communication network, Yvette could hear his operation disintegrating.
"Sir, we need to abort," his security chief was saying. "Our extraction is compromised, funding is cut off, and the operation is being broadcast internationally."
"Negative!" Curtis screamed. "I'm not going to federal prison because of some accountant. Initiate thermal assault now!"
"Third target," Yvette said, her voice hardening with determination. "Their weapons systems."
She'd been tracking the electronic signatures of Curtis's incendiary devices for the past hour, mapping their communication protocols and trigger mechanisms. Now she exploited the same vulnerabilities she'd used to penetrate their network.
"Yvette," Vincent said urgently, "whatever you're doing, they're moving to trigger those devices."
"Let them try."
Curtis's team activated their incendiary triggers, expecting to create overlapping fire patterns that would burn the house down with everyone inside. Instead, nothing happened.
Yvette had penetrated their electronic systems and disabled every trigger mechanism.
"What the hell?" Curtis's voice cracked with disbelief. "Why aren't the charges firing?"
"Because I own your entire network," Yvette said, though he couldn't hear her.
But she wasn't finished. Using her access to their trigger systems, she reprogrammed the incendiary devices for a different purpose entirely.
"Fourth target: Curtis himself."
Instead of igniting around the house, the devices activated in a perfect circle around Curtis's command position, creating a controlled burn that trapped him and his security detail without escape routes.
"Sir, we're surrounded by fire!" his security chief shouted. "The charges went off in the wrong pattern!"
Through her thermal imaging, Yvette watched Curtis's team realize they'd walked into their own trap. The man who'd ordered the deaths of thousands of soldiers was now caged by his own weapons.
"Vincent," she called. "Curtis is contained. His team is trapped by their own incendiary devices."
"Outstanding." Vincent was already coordinating with Agent Bates. "Federal teams, move in for arrest. Suspects are contained and unable to retreat."
