Chapter 4 - The Welcome Committee
When the flight landed at London Heathrow the following morning, the Mercer family didn't find a luxury chauffeur waiting for them in the arrivals hall. They found two men in dark, conservative suits holding federal extradition warrants, flanked by British customs authorities.
Brooke, Nathan's sister, began screaming as an officer stepped in front of her luggage cart. "Do you know who we are? My brother is a world-renowned surgeon! Get your hands off our bags!"
"Dr. Nathan Mercer?" the lead investigator asked, ignoring Brooke entirely.
Nathan, pale and sweating through his designer sport coat, stepped forward, trying to maintain his authoritative hospital tone. "There has been a catastrophic administrative error with my banking institution. I am here on a private family holiday—"
"You're here on a federal arrest warrant issued by the District of Massachusetts, Dr. Mercer," the investigator interrupted, presenting the red-sealed documentation. "Charges include corporate fraud, falsification of medical data, and international wire laundering. Your passport has been revoked. Step out of the line, please."
Elena Vance took three steps back, her eyes wide with horror as she looked at the man she thought was her wealthy savior. "Nathan? What is he talking about? What fraud?"
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"Elena, baby, listen to me, it's a mistake—" Nathan pleaded, but before he could touch her arm, a British officer firmly gripped his wrists, clicking a pair of heavy steel handcuffs around his forearms.
Diane collapsed onto her rose-gold suitcase, wailing as the luxury facade they had spent a decade building dissolved on the cold linoleum floor of Heathrow Airport.
