Chapter 14 - Vanessa’s Last Card Headline: "The Mistress Tried to Trade a Hidden Flash Drive for Her Freedom—Then Emma Walked into the Interrogation Room!"
While Grant was being transferred to Pelican Bay, Vanessa Cole was sitting in a federal interrogation room at the United States District Court in Seattle.
Wearing an oversized orange prison jumpsuit, her roots showing and her designer facade completely shattered, Vanessa was desperately bargaining with federal prosecutors.
"I have the physical drive!" Vanessa pleaded, slamming her cuffed hands against the metal table. "Grant kept an encrypted offline backup of all the secret shell accounts Victor Vance used to bribe city port authorities! If you give me full immunity and witness protection, I will hand it over!"
The prosecutor looked at the lead investigator, hesitant. "If that drive contains the port bribery records, it could blow the roof off the entire Pacific Northwest corrupt political machine..."
Suddenly, the door to the interrogation room swung open.
I walked in, wearing a sleek crimson coat over a white silk blouse, carrying a quiet confidence that filled the room. Behind me walked two senior agents from the Department of Justice.
Vanessa sneered, her eyes burning with pure venom. "Look who showed up. The Saintly Emma. Come to gloat while I rot in a cell?"
"I don't need to gloat, Vanessa," I said smoothly, pulling out a steel chair and sitting down opposite her. "I came to tell you that your flash drive is worthless."
Vanessa’s eyes widened in panic. "You're lying! Grant hid it in his safe deposit box in Vancouver! Only I had the key!"
I placed a clear plastic evidence bag on the table. Inside was the black metallic flash drive.
"You mean this key?" I asked, holding up a small brass key. "Your assistant sold your apartment storage codes to Whitaker Security two days ago for twenty thousand dollars. We decoded the drive yesterday morning."
Vanessa dropped back into her chair, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "No... no, no, no! That was my leverage! That was my ticket out!"
"You traded your life for Grant Vance’s empty promises," I said, leaning closer, looking her dead in the eye. "You watched me bleed on a sidewalk, Vanessa. You laughed when he left me. You thought you were winning his empire, but all you did was inherit his funeral."
I stood up, adjusting my coat. "Prosecutor, cancel her immunity plea. Charge her as a co-conspirator to federal bribery and corporate treason."
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As I walked out of the room, Vanessa's hysterical screams echoed down the concrete hallway: "Emma! Please! I was stupid! Grant forced me! Emma!"
I didn't look back.
