Chapter 6 - The Federal Hammer
"Agent Brooks, you have no jurisdiction here," the lawyer snapped, standing up immediately. He was an expensive suit with a cheap moral compass, exactly Vanessa's type. "You need to leave this room, or I will file a formal complaint with your superiors regarding harassment." I didn't look at him; I kept my eyes locked entirely on Vanessa. She was trying to maintain her defiant posture, but her hands were trembling in her lap.
"Mr. Sterling, isn't it?" I asked, finally glancing at the lawyer. When he confirmed and stated his client had nothing to say, I pulled a folded piece of paper from my inner pocket. "That's perfectly fine. She doesn't need to speak. She just needs to listen." I unfolded the paper and laid it flat on the metal table, right in front of Vanessa. It was a federal warrant, signed by a federal judge just twenty minutes ago. "Vanessa Brooks, you are under arrest for federal wire fraud, attempted bank fraud, and interstate extortion."
Her smug facade cracked completely. "What? Wire fraud? You're crazy!" she shrieked, her voice echoing in the small room, begging Sterling to do something. Sterling looked at the warrant, his face pale, and tried to argue it was a gross overreach. "It's a federal indictment, Counselor," I interrupted, my voice dropping an octave. "Your client used electronic communications across state lines to fraudulently attempt to seize an estate. The assault on my father was the physical mechanism of that fraud."
I leaned in, placing both hands on the table, invading her space. "This is no longer a local domestic violence case, Vanessa. There is no bail for federal extortion cases involving flight risks and massive debt. You aren't going to a county jail where you can manipulate the guards. You are going to a federal holding facility." Vanessa looked like she couldn't breathe. The reality of her situation was finally crashing down around her. She wasn't the smartest person in the room anymore; she was a cornered criminal.
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"David!" she screamed suddenly. "David will tell you! It was his idea!" I felt a sickening twist in my stomach, but I kept my face utterly blank. "Oh, we've already spoken to David," I lied smoothly. "He was very cooperative. He gave us your laptop. He gave us the documents." Vanessa's eyes widened in absolute horror at the ultimate betrayal from the man she had controlled for so long. "He threw you under the bus, Vanessa, to save himself. And the neighbor's Ring camera caught the whole thing."
I stepped back and signaled to two federal marshals who had just arrived in the hallway. "Take her," I ordered. They walked in, grabbed her arms, and hauled her to her feet. "You can't do this!" she screamed as they cuffed her, still claiming self-defense as they dragged her down the corridor. Mr. Sterling packed his briefcase in complete silence, avoiding my gaze, knowing a sinking ship when he saw one. I walked out of the room, feeling the heavy adrenaline begin to fade. The federal hammer had dropped, but there was still one piece of unfinished business. I had to deal with my brother.
