Chapter 6 - The Shadows of Julian Thorne
Arthur Vance was behind bars at the Metropolitan Correction Center, held without bail as a flight risk. But as I soon learned, putting a multi-millionaire in a orange jumpsuit does not mean his power is broken.
Three days after the public arrest at the church, Mateo, Ortiz, and I gathered at the District Attorney’s office in Lower Manhattan.
Sitting at the head of the conference table was Senior Assistant District Attorney Marcus Vance—no relation to Arthur, but a ruthless prosecutor known for taking down organized crime syndicates.
"We have a massive problem," Marcus said, slamming a heavy folder onto the table. "Julian Thorne just filed a seven-hundred-page motion to suppress every piece of digital evidence Clara pulled from Vance Global’s servers."
Mateo frowned. "On what grounds? Clara was an authorized financial consultant for Vance Global. She had full administrative clearance to access those databases."
"Thorne is arguing that Clara’s clearance was revoked by Arthur forty-eight hours before the fire," Marcus explained, pulling out a signed corporate resolution document. "Look at the date on this board meeting minutes file."
I picked up the document, scanning it quickly. "This is a forgery. Arthur didn't hold a board meeting on November 12th. I was with my mother in Westchester that entire day."
"It doesn't matter if it’s a forgery if Thorne can get the corporate secretary to testify under oath that it’s real," Marcus said grimly. "And five minutes ago, Vance Global’s entire Board of Directors voted to ratify the document. They’re protecting themselves. If Clara’s evidence is ruled inadmissible under the Fourth Amendment as an illegal search by a private party acting as a government agent, the entire wire fraud and murder case collapses."
"What about the arson evidence?" Ortiz asked, her knuckles turning white. "We have the melted gas can! We have the pry marks on the gas line!"
"The defense hired three independent forensic experts who just submitted a report claiming the accelerant found at the scene matched a common cleaning solvent used by the house’s maintenance crew," Marcus said, rubbing his temples in frustration. "Without the financial motive link—without proving Arthur stood to gain eight million from the insurance policy—a jury will see this as a tragic home accident with circumstantial evidence."
Silence fell over the room.
I sat back in my chair, closing my eyes, feeling the heavy weight of exhaustion settling over my bones. Julian Thorne was doing exactly what I feared: using millions of dollars in legal maneuverings to tear apart our case piece by piece until nothing was left but doubt.
"Where is the weak link?" I asked softly, opening my eyes.
"What do you mean?" Mateo asked.
"Thorne’s defense relies on three things," I said, standing up and walking to the whiteboard. "First, the forged corporate resolution. Second, the testimonies of the bought-and-paid-for board members. Third, the suppression of my digital files."
I picked up a red dry-erase marker and drew a heavy circle around one name on the org chart: VICTORIA CHEN.
"Who is she?" Marcus asked.
"Victoria Chen is Vance Global’s Chief Financial Officer," I said. "She signed off on every single offshore wire transfer Arthur ever made. But Victoria isn't like Arthur. She’s not an aristocrat with political connections. She’s a career accountant who built her entire life on precision."
"And?" Ortiz asked, leaning forward.
"And Victoria hates Julian Thorne," I smiled faintly. "Two years ago, when the IRS audited Vance Global’s European shipping operations, Thorne forced Victoria to take a formal reprimand to protect Arthur. She keeps a private, physical backup of every document Arthur ever forced her to alter, hidden in a safety deposit box at First New York Bank."
"How do you know that?" Mateo asked, amazed.
May you like
"Because I helped her encrypt it," I said. "Victoria was terrified Arthur would throw her to the wolves if things ever went bad. She told me once over drinks that if Arthur ever went down, she wouldn't go down with him."
Marcus picked up his phone, his eyes flashing with renewed determination. "Ortiz, get a subpoena for Victoria Chen's safety deposit box. Let's see if Mr. Thorne's high-priced defense can stand up against his own CFO's confession."
