Thirty-seven thousand dollars in medical debt.
Twelve thousand in back rent and eviction fees.
Eight thousand in credit card balances.
Fifty-seven thousand dollars total.
Fifty-seven thousand dollars that I could erase with a single transaction.
Fifty-seven thousand dollars that someone else now controls.
"They weaponized her past," I say quietly.
"Yes," Kael confirms. "And they have already made contact."
My head snaps toward him.
"When?"
"Yesterday afternoon. They sent a representative to her apartment. Offered her a deal."
The air in the room grows colder.
"What kind of deal?"
Kael pulls up a final file.
It is a recorded conversation.
Audio only.
I do not need to see her face to recognize her voice.
The recording plays.
"Ms. Beck, we represent Obsidian Recovery Solutions. We have recently acquired your outstanding debt portfolios. We are prepared to offer you a full discharge of all liabilities—no payment required—in exchange for a single service."
A pause.
Then Tamsin's voice, sharp and wary:
"What kind of service?"
"We need access to certain proprietary information. Specifically: the structural blueprints and encrypted access codes for the primary obsidian vaults operated by Obsidian Aegis Security."
Another pause.
Longer this time.
"You want me to steal from my employer."
"We prefer to think of it as... information sharing. You provide the blueprints. We discharge your debt. Everyone walks away satisfied."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then we proceed with standard collection protocols. Wage garnishment. Asset seizure. Legal action. We are very thorough, Ms. Beck."
The recording ends.
