Chapter 7 - The Sub-Level Archive
The investigation did not take place in courtroom halls, but in the damp, subterranean storage vaults six floors beneath the Apex Vanguard lobby.
Accompanied by Walter's chief security officer, a tall, silent man named Miller, Leo descended into the dark archives where paper files from the past decade were preserved in climate-controlled steel lockers.
"Your uncle, Marcus Vance, worked here as chief accountant before your father died," Miller explained, shining a high-powered tactical flashlight down the narrow rows of metal shelving. "When your father was accused of stealing three million dollars, the digital logs were wiped. But Marcus kept physical backup tapes."
Leo pulled a rusted brass key from his pocket—a key his mother had given him on her deathbed two years ago. "She told me this belonged to a locker down here, but I never had the security clearance to reach sub-level six."
They stopped before Locker 412. Leo inserted the key. The lock resisted for a moment before turning with a loud metallic click.
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Inside lay three thick blue ledgers and a series of encrypted magnetic tapes labeled Project Apex - Foundation Reallocation.
As Leo pulled the first ledger out, a floor-board creaked behind them.
