Chapter 6 - The Closing Net
“Vanessa Brooks?” Sergeant Miller asked, stepping up to the table with his badge displayed clearly on his lapel. “You are being placed under arrest for federal wire fraud, grand larceny, forgery, and unlawful restraint.”
“No! There’s a mistake!” Vanessa screamed, thrashing wildly as one of the federal inspectors stepped forward and secured a pair of cold steel handcuffs around her wrists. “David! Tell them! This is a private business dispute! You can’t do this to me!”
The entire lobby of the Drake Hotel had gone dead silent. Dozens of wealthy patrons, business executives, and hotel staff stared in stunned disbelief as a high-society bride-to-be was hauled out of the luxury lounge in handcuffs.
I didn't stand up. I didn't gloat. I simply watched as Vanessa was guided toward the revolving doors, her designer blazer twisted awkwardly around her arms, her face contorted in a mask of pure, unbridled hatred.
As she passed my table, she lunged forward, screaming at the top of her lungs:
“You’ll pay for this, David! You hear me?! I’ll ruin you! I’ll take everything you have!”
The doors swung shut behind them, cutting off her shrill screams as the hotel security guards smoothly managed the crowd, guiding everyone back to their conversations as if nothing had happened.
Marcus walked out from behind one of the marble pillars, sliding smoothly into the empty chair opposite me with a quiet smile.
“Well,” Marcus said, smoothing down his tie. “That was certainly more dramatic than filing paperwork electronically.”
“It needed to be public,” I replied, setting my coffee cup down on the saucer. “When someone tries to destroy your life from the inside out, you don't hide the cleanup in the dark. You put it out in the sunlight where everyone can see it.”
“What about Julian?” Marcus asked, pulling out his tablet.
“Federal agents picked him up at his North Side apartment twenty minutes ago,” I said smoothly. “They found three laptops containing forged corporate documents, cloned digital signatures, and records of dozens of unauthorized wire transfers. They’re both going away for a very long time.”
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Marcus nodded approvingly. “The state’s attorney is pushing for maximum sentences on the felony charges, especially with the unlawful restraint and battery counts involving Teresa. That alone adds mandatory prison time.”
I stood up from the table, buttoning my suit jacket. “Let’s go back to the office, Marcus. I have a house to get back to, and someone very special who deserves a proper apology and a permanent place of honor in my family.”
