mansion, Richard Booth stood behind his

es, kept his gaze nervously lowered, his hands

th my own eyes,"

d down the driveway. Three military helicopters hovered right above the roof wit

oor flew open. Eleanor rushed inside, h

girl is a complete disaster. She must've committed some massive federal crime before we br

glass down onto the desk, splashing

d. "She hasn't even been back in this house for a month, and she's alrea

a venomous sneer. "If Wall Street finds out your biological daughter is in federal p

desk, his eyes cold and ruthless

elaide's name immediately. Don't leave her a single penny to hire a lawyer. Sin

ton hurried out

fee. As she overheard Richard's order, a slow, triumphant smile spread acros

neath the bedrock of Manhattan, the six arm

massive steel blast doors belonging to a

s of armed military guards snapped to attention and saluted

lity, the atmosphere was on

r professors from MIT and Caltech stood in tense, sweating silence. Above their heads, a giant

rked through a live video feed from the Pen

re algorithm isn't fixed before the timer hits zero, ten billion dollars in defe

rubbed his damp temples,

fifty of our top experts have been working nonstop for three days, and even the military super

glass doors of the co

er casual clothes, a blood-red badge representing the na

ned man who'd just been granted a pardo

You're fin

ound at once, their exhausted eyes

en stiffened, automatically straightening his uniform as he

the central control station, pulled the black encrypted flas

e on the main screen,"

ror codes instantly flo

fected over ten million lines of code. Even if you start fixing it now, three

eather swivel chair and sat down, her dark eyes turning r

flatly. "Clear the backup serv

ouse aside and placed her long fingers acro

like a torrential rainstorm echoe

ss blur, entering streams of new commands at breakneck speed. On the giant wall screen, ten

tared at the monitor, his jaw slack

entirely. She's running the calculations in h

d, his hands trembling. "No human brain can

s, miracle after miracle u

the blinding red error warnings i

air at thi

y pe

y per

the sound of harsh breathing and the rapid cl

leaning all the way forward over his desk, his fists c

wn clock, Adelaide lifted her right hand a

ic chime rang ou

, a massive green shield icon locked into place, accompanied by a cl

ed, nearly shaking the ceiling of the underground bunker. Several veteran

r general stood at full attenti

artment of Defense, thank you! Y

e bridge of her nose, looking completely unfaze

er a steaming cup of black coffee. "Dr. Booth

a slow sip o

make sure the fifty-million-dollar project bon

funds are being wired to your account

vibrated. Noticing the special caller ID, her cold expressi

pa Arc

ritt, the former patriarch of the richest financial empire on Wa

I interrup

sk," Adelaide said gently. "How h

"Speaking of which, we're hosting a small high-society family reception at the estate to

reception? You know I don't

bald immediately broke into a string

ramatically into the receiver. "I think my bad heart i

naire's clumsy acting, Adel

g it. I'll come chec

Wonderful! Wait for me at the corner of Madison Avenue in twenty minutes. I

e took off her white lab coat

underground bunker's secret exit, carrying Adelaide tow