Chapter 4 - The Tables Turn
By Sunday evening, the full scope of Ethan’s financial and legal crimes had been laid out across the mahogany conference table of the penthouse suite Dad had rented at the Arizona Biltmore.
Marcus, head of Dad’s corporate security division, stood beside a large monitor displaying bank ledgers, text message logs, and security camera stills.
"It wasn't just embezzlement from you and your husband's family, Mr. Bennett," Marcus explained, clicking to a new slide. "Ethan Vance has been running a multi-layered identity theft and mortgage fraud scheme across three states. He used Emily's maiden name and forged corporate signatures to take out secondary loans on properties in New York and Nevada. Furthermore, we located his vehicle about an hour ago parked outside a boutique resort in Sedona."
Dad leaned back in his leather chair, swirling a glass of scotch slowly. "Is he alone?"
"No, sir. He's with his mother, Brenda, and... interestingly enough, he's currently meeting with a local real estate broker trying to liquidate a cashier's check for fifty thousand dollars that was wired from one of Emily's personal accounts this morning."
A cold smile touched the corners of my father’s mouth. "Fifty thousand dollars of my daughter's stolen money. Perfect."
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Dad turned his gaze toward me, sitting comfortably on the sofa with Lily sleeping peacefully against my shoulder. "Are you ready to see how a real estate deal is supposed to close, Emily?"
Thirty minutes later, a convoy of three black SUVs left the resort parking lot, heading north toward Sedona.
