Chapter 6 - The Unraveling
Garrett's hand tightened on Emily's shoulder with sudden, painful force. ""Emily, don't be ridiculous. Vanessa and I went through Section Four three times. It's standard indemnification.""
""Is it?"" Emily lifted her gaze, locking eyes with Vanessa Cole. ""Because Section Four states that Carter Harbor Properties accepts full responsibility for sixty-two million dollars in defaulted debt currently held by a shell corporation named C&V Holdings in the Cayman Islands.""
Vanessa's face drained of color so quickly it looked as though she had been struck. ""What are you talking about? That's not in that binder.""
""Oh, it's not in this binder,"" Emily smiled sweetly, sliding the leather folder to Uncle Arthur. ""This binder contains the forensic audit Roman Vale’s team completed forty-eight hours ago.""
""What the hell is going on here?"" Uncle Arthur roared, flipping the binder open. His eyes widened as he read the red-stamped bank statements. ""Garrett! What is the meaning of this? You’ve been transferring harbor funds into private accounts!""
""Arthur, shut up and give me those papers!"" Garrett snarled, lunging across the table to snatch the document.
""Don't touch him.""
The deep, resonant voice cut through the dining room like a butcher's cleaver.
The heavy double doors of the private salon swung open. Roman Vale stepped inside, flanked by Diane Vance and two uniformed detectives from the Boston Police Department’s financial crimes division.
The room erupted into shocked whispers.
""Roman Vale?"" Garrett scoffed, his voice climbing an octave into nervous hysteria. ""What is this thug doing here? Emily, have you lost your damn mind? You’re bringing competitors into our private family business?""
""Mr. Vance,"" Roman said, stepping up to the foot of the table and ignoring Garrett completely. ""I believe you have an active warrant for Garrett Vance and Vanessa Cole on charges of grand larceny, corporate embezzlement, and wire fraud.""
""That's a lie!"" Vanessa shrieked, jumping to her feet, her composure completely shattered. ""You have no jurisdiction here! I am an officer of the court!""
""You were an officer of the court, Ms. Cole,"" Diane Vance stated with lethal calm, pulling a certified document from her briefcase. ""The Massachusetts Bar Association suspended your license two hours ago pending criminal investigation. The audio recordings from Room 1208 at the Halston Hotel were very illuminating.""
Garrett froze. He slowly turned his head to look at Emily.
Emily met his gaze with absolute, unyielding stillness.
""Room 1208?"" Garrett stammered, his face turning an ugly shade of mottled gray. ""Emily... Emily, wait. Let me explain. It wasn't what it sounded like.""
""You told her the baby was useful,"" Emily whispered, every syllable ringing clear across the hushed room. ""You said I was sentimental. You said after the merger, I could figure out my own life.""
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Uncle Arthur stood up, shaking with rage, his wine glass shattering against the table. ""You bastard! You absolute scoundrel!""
The two detectives moved forward, snapping cold steel handcuffs around Garrett's wrists before he could take another step.
