Chapter 13 - THE JUDAS KISS AND THE BITTER TASTE OF INTERNAL BETRAYAL
The announcement was made at the 2:00 PM all-hands meeting.
Noel stood at the front of the room,
her voice calm and projecting a confidence she didn't entirely feel.
"We’ve identified a security flaw in the legacy code,"
she told the assembled staff.
"To ensure the safety of our data,
we will be migrating all operations to a secure off-site facility in Geneva starting tonight at midnight."
She watched the faces of her employees.
She saw concern,
curiosity,
and the usual weariness of people facing a long night of work.
But she was looking for something else.
A flicker of panic.
A quick glance at a pocket.
A subtle shift in posture.
She saw it in the back of the room.
David,
her operations manager,
was gripping the back of a chair so hard his knuckles were white.
David had been with her for six years.
She had attended his wedding.
She had sent flowers when his daughter was born.
She had trusted him with the keys to the kingdom because she believed he shared her values.
As the meeting broke up,
Noel returned to her office and waited.
Three minutes later,
Marcus buzzed her.
"We have a hit.
The device is active.
Outgoing message to the Rossi shell company."
"What does it say?"
"'Migration starts at midnight.
Move the schedule up.
He needs to trigger the kill switch now.'"
Noel closed her eyes for a moment,
feeling a pang of genuine grief.
The betrayal of a partner was one thing,
but the betrayal of a friend was a different kind of pain.
It was the realization that money and fear could corrupt even the most loyal souls.
"Bring him in,
Marcus,"
she said,
her voice hollow.
"And make sure security is at the door."
Five minutes later,
David was ushered into her office.
He looked around at the guards,
his face turning a sickly shade of gray.
"Noel?
What’s going on?
I have a lot of work to do for the migration."
"The migration isn't happening,
David,"
Noel said,
gesturing for him to sit.
"There is no off-site facility in Geneva."
David froze,
the lie dying in the air between them.
"I know about the messages,"
she continued,
leaning forward.
"I know about the shell company.
And I know you’re working for Darius."
David burst into tears,
a sudden,
uncontrolled sobbing that made Noel feel more disgust than pity.
"He threatened me,
Noel!
He said he’d ruin my family.
He had photos of my house,
of my kids at school.
He told me he’d make sure I was blamed for the embezzlement at Holt Table if I didn't help him."
"So you decided to help him destroy us instead?"
"He said he just wanted his fair share!
He said you stole the company from him!"
"I built this company,
David,"
Noel said,
her voice like a blade.
"He just slapped the person who was doing the work."
She stood up and walked to the window,
looking away from him.
"You have one chance to save yourself from a prison sentence,"
she said.
"You’re going to send another message.
You’re going to tell him that the migration has been moved up to 6:00 PM.
And you’re going to tell him that I’m personally carrying the hardware backup to a safe deposit box at the First National Bank."
"He’ll kill me,"
David whispered.
"He doesn't have the courage to kill anyone,"
Noel replied.
"He only has the courage to hide.
And you’re going to help me smoke him out."
She watched as David,
his hands shaking,
typed the message under Marcus’s watchful eye.
The trap was set.
The Judas had kissed her,
but now she was the one holding the silver.
As they led David away,
Noel felt a strange sense of lightness.
The circle of people she could trust had shrunk,
but it was stronger now.
May you like
She picked up her coat.
It was time to go to the bank.
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