Chapter 4 - The Boutique Bust
On Monday morning, the drama moved from my dining room to the streets of downtown Denver. Accompanied by Detective Miller and a team of state financial investigators, I stood across the street from Aura Couture, Natalie's upscale boutique.
The shop was supposed to be closed, but through the glass windows, I could see Natalie frantically stuffing designer dresses and luxury handbags into large black garbage bags. She was trying to liquidate the inventory before the asset freeze took full effect.
"Looks like she got tipped off," Detective Miller said, pulling her radio from her vest. "Move in."
I watched from the sidewalk as three investigators entered the boutique. Natalie’s scream of frustration echoed out onto the street as an investigator snatched a handful of cash ledger books from her hands.
Within minutes, she was led out of the store in handcuffs, her expensive sunglasses crooked on her face, crying hysterically as a small crowd of morning commuters stopped to film the scene on their phones.
She spotted me standing by the police cruiser.
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"You bitch!" Natalie shrieked, kicking her heels against the pavement. "You ruined my business! You ruined my family! My mother is going to destroy you for this!"
"Your business was a fraud, Natalie," I said as she was guided into the back of the transport van. "And your mother is next."
