Chapter 7 - The Net Tightens
Grant slumped into a steel chair, panting heavily and glaring at us with unmasked hatred as Marcus released his grip.
“You think you’ve won,” Grant spat, wiping his jacket lapel with a shaking hand. “Vance controls the police department, the judges, and the city council. You can’t fight City Hall, Evie. You’re just an eighteen-year-old kid playing detective.”
“I’m an eighteen-year-old kid with a three-million-dollar trust and a bulletproof paper trail,” I corrected him, stepping right up to his chair. “And unlike you, I didn't sign my name to a felony wire transfer.”
Marcus picked up his phone, dialing a pre-programmed number with steady fingers.
“Special Agent Miller, please,” Marcus said into the receiver. “This is Marcus Vance—no relation to the Deputy Mayor. I have two federal informants and a complete digital ledger of the Meridian Holdings fraud ready for immediate pickup.”
Grant’s face turned completely white.
“You called the feds?” Grant whispered in horror. “You’re throwing your own flesh and blood into a federal penitentiary?”
“Father and Vance did that the moment they decided to steal from Grandfather’s legacy and frame me for their crimes,” I replied calmly.
Within twenty minutes, two unmarked federal vehicles pulled up outside the safehouse gates. Federal agents in windbreakers swarmed the property, securing the perimeter before entering the command center.
Special Agent Miller, a tall woman with sharp eyes and an authoritative bearing, walked straight up to Marcus and shook his hand.
“Good to see you again, Marcus,” Miller said, before turning her gaze toward Grant, who was now sitting frozen in his chair. “And who do we have here?”
“Grant Kingsley,” I answered, sliding the flash drive and the audio recording across the desk toward her. “He just came by to deliver an extortion threat on behalf of Deputy Mayor Arthur Vance and my father.”
Agent Miller signaled to one of the agents standing behind her.
“Take Mr. Kingsley into custody for questioning regarding obstruction of justice and witness tampering,” Miller ordered smoothly.
“You can’t do this!” Grant screamed as two agents pulled him out of his chair and slapped steel cuffs around his wrists. “Dad will ruin you! Vance will destroy you!”
His protests faded down the hallway as they led him out to the waiting vehicle.
May you like
I let out a long, slow breath, feeling a massive weight lift from my shoulders for the first time since my birthday party.
“That’s one piece of the puzzle down,” Marcus said, looking at Agent Miller. “Now for the main event.”
