IT staff were arriving through the side corridor.
Rebecca whispered:
“You’re too late.”
Imani’s head turned.
“What?”
Rebecca’s eyes snapped back to her.
“I said nothing.”
“No.”
“You said I’m too late.”
Graham interrupted immediately.
“She’s upset.”
Imani looked toward him.
“Did I ask you?”
His jaw tightened.
Rebecca looked down.
Imani stepped closer.
“Too late for what?”
Rebecca shook her head.
“I want counsel.”
“That is probably wise.”
Imani turned toward Daniel.
“Timestamp?”
He checked his phone.
“10:02.”
She looked toward the teller.
“What batch settles at ten?”
The young woman looked terrified.
Margaret said:
“Don’t answer.”
Imani looked toward her.
“Why?”
“Employee confidentiality.”
Daniel held up the order.
“The preservation order authorizes operational questions necessary to prevent dissipation of identified assets.”
Margaret looked toward him.
Then toward the teller.
“You can answer.”
The teller swallowed.
“International trust sweeps.”
Imani felt her heartbeat change.
“How large today?”
“I don’t know.”
“Who would?”
The teller looked toward Rebecca.
Rebecca’s face had gone completely white.
Imani stepped closer to the counter.
“Ms. Sloan.”
No answer.
“How large?”
Rebecca whispered:
“I want a lawyer.”
Imani nodded.
“You should have one.”
Then turned toward Margaret.
“Who can see outgoing queued transfers without using a frozen credential?”
Margaret answered:
“Treasury operations.”
“Call them.”
Graham stepped forward.
“Before we cause unnecessary panic—”
Imani turned.
“Panic?”
He stopped.
“You have a court order freezing nineteen accounts and a senior banker saying we’re too late while watching the settlement clock.”
She gestured toward the silent lobby.
“Panic arrived before I did.”
Graham’s face hardened.
“I’m trying to protect this institution.”
Imani looked at him.
“Then help protect the money.”
Margaret called treasury.
Everyone waited.
No one sat.
Thirty-seven seconds.
Then Margaret said:
“Yes.”
Her face changed.
“How much?”
She listened.
Graham closed his eyes.
Margaret whispered:
“Thirty-eight point four.”
Imani stepped closer.
“Million?”
Margaret nodded.
“Destination?”
Another pause.
“Northbridge Legacy Services.”
Imani’s stomach dropped.
There it was.
The name she had been chasing for six months.
“Status?”
Margaret listened.
“Released at 9:59.”
Rebecca shut her eyes.
Imani looked toward Daniel.
“Can it be recalled?”
Margaret asked.
Listened.
“Yes.”
“Window?”