Chapter 6 - The Steel Hand of the Law
Everett looked up from the pavement, his face pale and wet with sweat, as the two federal marshals stopped in front of him.
“Everett Vance?” the lead marshal asked, pulling a leather badge holder from his coat pocket.
“Yes...” Everett stammered, scrambling to his feet with Patricia’s help. “What... what is this about? I’m filing a lawsuit against my wife! I’m the victim here!”
“Mr. Vance, you are under arrest by order of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York,” the marshal stated in a firm, authoritative voice. “You are charged with grand larceny, wire fraud, bank fraud, and the embezzlement of twenty-four million dollars from a federally protected employee pension fund.”
The crowd of buyers and reporters gasped, cameras flashing furiously as the marshal pulled Everett’s arms behind his back and clicked heavy steel handcuffs around his wrists.
“No!” Patricia wailed, grabbing the marshal’s sleeve. “You’re making a mistake! My son is an innocent man! It was Evelyn! She set him up!”
“Ma’am, step back or you will be charged with obstruction of justice,” the second officer warned, firmly pushing Patricia away.
“Evelyn!” Everett shrieked, thrashing against the officers as they began dragging him toward an unmarked black SUV parked near the taxi. “Evelyn, help me! They’re going to put me in federal prison! You can stop this! Talk to the prosecutor!”
I walked down the steps of the terrace, stopping ten feet away from him, surrounded by my legal team.
“I didn't file the criminal charges, Everett,” I said calmly. “The Department of Justice did. When you stole from the men and women who cleaned your offices and managed your servers so you could buy luxury yachts and emerald gowns for your mistress, you made yourself a felon.”
“I’ll pay it back!” Everett wept, dropping to his knees on the concrete sidewalk, his cuffs rattling against his belt. “I’ll work for you! I’ll give you everything! Just don't let them take me to jail!”
“You don't have anything left to give, Everett,” I said.
Madison took two steps away from Everett, her eyes wide with terror as she realized the boat was sinking fast. She turned to run down the sidewalk, but two police officers stationed near the corner stepped into her path.
“Madison Reed?” one officer asked.
“I... I didn't do anything!” she stammered, backing away. “I was just his girlfriend!”
“Miss Reed, you are named as a co-conspirator in the grand larceny warrant for accepting stolen corporate funds, tax evasion, and receiving stolen property,” the officer informed her, pulling her arms behind her back and cuffing her on the spot.
“Everett!” Madison screamed, her composure completely shattering as she was forced onto the hood of a police cruiser. “You lied to me! You ruined my life, you broke piece of trash!”
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Everett stared at his mistress, the woman he had publicly humiliated me for, as she hurled venomous insults at him while being stuffed into the back of a police car.
The illusion was entirely shattered. There was no romance, no luxury, no power left—only two criminals turning on each other like starved animals in a cage.
