Chapter 3 - The Interrogation Room
Twenty-four hours later, I sat inside a dimly lit observation room behind a two-way mirror at the Federal Building in downtown Hartford.
Beside me stood Federal Prosecutor Sarah Jenkins and Captain James Miller of the Army Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps. On the other side of the glass sat Marcus, wearing an orange jumpsuit, his hands cuffed to the steel table. His hair was a matted mess, and his eyes were swollen from crying.
Across from him sat Special Agent Raymond of the FBI's Financial Crimes Division.
"Let's go over this one more time, Mr. Vale," Agent Raymond said, tapping a pen against a yellow legal pad. "You claim you had no knowledge that the $1.2 million transferred into Vale Capital Management was linked to the Kremlin-backed syndicate running through Cyprus."
"I swear to God!" Marcus wept, leaning forward as far as his chains would allow. "Olivia told me it was private venture capital from a group of European investors who wanted to fund green technology projects in New England! I just signed the corporate intake forms! She handled the wire routing!"
"And who authorized the distribution of $300,000 from those funds into an offshore account in the Cayman Islands under the name 'Vale & Grant Assets'?" Raymond asked smoothly.
Marcus froze. "What? What account?"
"An account opened four months ago," Raymond continued. "Using your social security number and Miss Grant’s signature. The same account that was used to pay off Miss Grant's personal gambling debts in Atlantic City."
In the observation room, I let out a soft breath.
"He really was that stupid," Captain Miller whispered beside me. "He wasn't just a criminal, Colonel. He was her fall guy."
"He was arrogant," I replied. "He wanted so badly to believe he was a corporate mastermind that he never questioned why a woman like Olivia Grant suddenly took an interest in his failing firm. He wanted the illusion of success without the work."
Prosecutor Jenkins turned to me. "Colonel Brooks, because this financial network intersected with classified military logistics contracts your unit oversees, the Department of Defense is exercising concurrent jurisdiction. Marcus Vale’s legal team has reached out for a plea deal. They want to know if you are willing to testify as a character witness or offer leniency regarding the civil property claims."
I turned away from the glass to face Jenkins directly.
"No plea deal," I said firmly. "I want the full weight of federal charges pressed against both of them. Wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy, and illegal corporate execution. As for the civil property claims, my legal team has already filed for full forfeiture of all assets associated with Marcus Vale to cover back child support and alimony defaults."
"And the divorce decree?" Jenkins asked.
"The divorce papers he made me sign in the hospital were notarized under fraudulent pretenses," I said, pulling a red folder from my briefcase. "My attorney filed a motion to vacate. The family court judge has granted full, unencumbered legal and physical custody of Noah and Lily to me. Marcus's parental rights are officially suspended pending the outcome of his criminal trial."
May you like
Jenkins nodded with approval. "You’ve covered every angle, Colonel."
"I spent fifteen years analyzing battlefield strategy, Prosecutor," I replied, adjusting my service cap. "A man who couldn't even manage his own balance sheet never stood a chance."
