Chapter 11 - The Midnight Audit
At midnight, the high-rise corporate offices of Sterling & Associates were pitch black, save for the glow of computer monitors illuminating the 30th floor. Marcus Sterling sat at his massive glass desk, swirling a glass of scotch as he reviewed the legal injunction against Sadi's cafe. He was confident. A poor bartender had no legal defense against a multi-million-dollar municipal freeze.
The heavy oak door to his private office clicked open softly.
Marcus didn't look up, assuming it was his late-night security guard. "Leave the files on the desk and get out."
"Files can be messy, Marcus," a low, gravelly voice echoed through the darkened office.
Marcus froze, his glass halfway to his mouth. He slowly turned his head. Vincent Costa stood leaning casually against the doorframe, bathed in the pale moonlight pouring through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Two massive enforcers flanked the doorway behind him, blocking any possible exit.
"Costa," Marcus swallowed hard, forcing a tight, nervous smile as he stood up from his desk. "To what do I owe the pleasure at this hour? If this is about the little zoning dispute downtown—"
Vincent didn't answer immediately. He walked slowly across the plush carpet, his heavy footsteps echoing in the silent room. He picked up the physical master copy of the fraudulent injunction from Marcus's desk, glanced at it for a fraction of a second, and slowly tore it neatly down the middle.
"Sadi's cafe stays open, Marcus," Vincent said softly, his voice dangerously smooth. "The zoning permits are entirely valid. And your bank accounts—well, let's just say the financial board is currently auditing your firm for tax evasion and corporate extortion."
"You can't do that!" Marcus stammered, stepping backward until his legs hit the edge of the desk. "That's illegal!"
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"In my city," Vincent replied, stepping close enough that Marcus could feel the terrifying, absolute weight of his presence, "law is what I decide it is. If your lawyers step within a mile of Sadi or her property ever again, you won't have to worry about corporate audits. You'll be worrying about breathing."
Vincent turned on his heel toward the door, pausing just long enough to add over his shoulder, "Have a pleasant bankruptcy, Marcus."
