Chapter 6 - The Uninvited Arrival
Anthony had convened what he considered a war council at the exclusive Yale Club in Midtown. Armed with his legal counsel, Julian Cross, and flanked by Eleanor—who had spent the morning drumming up outrage among her bridge partners—Anthony was preparing to file his emergency injunction before the close of business. He felt invigorated, convinced that he had cornered me into financial and emotional surrender.
He was sitting in a private wood-paneled conference room, sipping single-malt scotch while Cross reviewed the drafted summons.
""We have her completely cornered,"" Anthony said, his chest swelling with satisfaction. ""Marissa is a bureaucrat. She hates public scrutiny. The moment she realizes that her employers will be dragged into an open court deposition regarding her finances, she will fold and settle on our terms. Mother gets her card reinstated with an apology, and I secure the penthouse as compensation for her slander.""
""It's a solid strategy, Anthony,"" Cross nodded, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses. ""Civilian defense contractors are exceptionally sensitive to reputational damage. If her security clearances come under question due to financial instability, her firm will let her go within a week.""
""She deserves everything coming to her,"" Eleanor snapped, holding an ice pack against her temple. ""The sheer impudence of that woman! She thought she could discard us like old clothes after using our family name to legitimize herself.""
The door to the private room swung open without a knock.
Anthony looked up, ready to reprimand whichever server had failed to observe protocol, but the words froze in his throat.
Standing in the doorway was not a club attendant. It was a man in an impeccably pressed dark suit, wearing an earpiece, holding a leather folder bearing the seal of the United States Department of Defense. Behind him stood two armed federal agents in tactical windbreakers, flanked by two uniformed New York City police captains.
""What is the meaning of this?"" Cross immediately stood up, his attorney persona kicking in. ""This is a private room. You are trespassing on private property.""
The lead agent stepped forward, completely ignoring Cross, his eyes locking onto Anthony. ""Anthony Vance?""
""Yes, I am,"" Anthony said, setting down his glass with a trembling hand, trying to sound authoritative. ""Who are you? What is this about?""
""I am Special Agent Marcus Hayes, Criminal Investigation Division, United States Army,"" the agent announced in a voice that cut through the room like a cold razor. ""Accompanied by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and officers of the NYPD Financial Crimes Task Force. We are executing a federal search and seizure warrant issued by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.""
Eleanor gasped, clutching her pearls. ""A warrant? For what? This is absurd! My son is a respected partner at Vance Capital!""
Agent Hayes turned his cool gaze toward her. ""Eleanor Vance?""
May you like
""Yes, and I demand—""
""Ma'am, you are formally identified as a person of interest in an ongoing federal investigation regarding the fraudulent exploitation of military funds, wire fraud, and grand larceny,"" Hayes stated flatly. ""Please step away from your bags and keep your hands visible.""
