Chapter 8 - The Fall of Vanguard
Four uniformed officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation walked into the penthouse suite, followed immediately by Assistant District Attorney Helen Cho and Evan Cole.
Marcus Vance stood up so fast his leather executive chair slammed into the walnut wall behind him.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Marcus bellowed, his face instantly flushing deep red. "Arthur! Get these people out of my office!"
Arthur Pendelton didn't move. He took two steps back toward the window, his hands raised in immediate surrender.
ADA Helen Cho stepped forward, holding an official federal arrest warrant and a search authorization order.
"Marcus Vance," Cho announced, her voice echoing clearly through the pristine office. "You are under arrest for federal wire fraud, conspiracy to commit forgery, extortion, and obstruction of justice."
"This is absurd!" Marcus spat, pointing an angry finger at me. "I was conducting a private civil settlement negotiation with Miss Bennett! She agreed to these terms willingly!"
"She wasn't negotiating, Marcus," Evan said, stepping up beside me and resting a supportive hand on the small of my back. "She was executing a court-authorized wiretap order."
Sarah Chen, Evan’s lead investigator, walked into the room carrying a black electronic receiver connected to a tablet. She hit play on the touchscreen.
Marcus’s own voice—recorded less than two minutes prior—filled the massive penthouse:
"Power isn't about who works hard or who plays by the rules... Your father tried to burst through the door with a brass stick because he was weak. I hold the keys. I always have."
Marcus stared at the tablet in utter disbelief, the color draining from his face until he looked as pale as the marble floor at the wedding.
"In addition," ADA Cho continued, "we have just received signed sworn testimony from Paige Bennett detailing your direct involvement in setting up the Apex Heritage shell corporation, as well as the wire transfers linking your commission accounts to the forged mortgage on Miss Bennett's property."
Two FBI agents stepped around the granite desk. Before Marcus could utter another word, they grabbed his arms, pulled them behind his back, and snapped cold steel handcuffs around his wrists.
The gold signet ring on his finger caught the cold afternoon light one last time as his hands were pinned behind his tailored navy suit.
May you like
"You're making a mistake!" Marcus shouted, his smooth composure completely shattered into ugly, panicked screams as he was dragged toward the executive elevator. "Do you know who I am?! I built this city! You can't do this to me!"
"It's over, Marcus," I said quietly, watching him being escorted out of his own empire. "The keys don't belong to you anymore."
