Chapter 9 - THE COLLAPSE OF DAVID VANCEIt didn’t take long for the shockwaves to hit.
By noon, the television screens mounted on the study wall—tuned to a live national financial news broadcast—were flashing breaking headlines:
“BREAKING NEWS: FEDERAL RAID AT VANCE INDUSTRIES HEADQUARTERS; CEO AND SENIOR PARTNERS DETAINED AMID MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR FRAUD AND COVER-UP SCANDAL.”
The anchor’s voice echoed through the quiet lodge: “Federal investigators, acting on anonymous whistleblower data and authenticated corporate server leaks released early this morning, have seized control of Vance Industries’ downtown headquarters. Junior partner David Vance was detained by federal marshals at his suburban residence moments ago while attempting to board a private international flight...”
I stared at the screen, watching footage of federal agents hauling a handcuffed, frantic David Vance out of his luxury home, shoving him into the back of an unmarked cruiser as flashing cameras blinded him.
The man who had abandoned his newborn daughter in a hospital gown just eighteen hours ago to protect his greedy, fraudulent lifestyle was now completely, utterly ruined.
The phone on the study desk began to ring violently.
It was a secure, encrypted line connected directly to an intermediary representing David Vance’s high-priced defense team.
Luka calmly reached over, picked up the receiver, and pressed the speaker button.
“Hello, David’s counsel,” Luka’s voice rang out cool and steady across the room.
A panicked, breathless voice spilled out through the speaker: “Listen to me! We want to negotiate! Mr. Vance is willing to sign over all remaining assets, issue a public confession, and plead guilty to all charges immediately, provided you withhold the final forensic DNA and asset-recovery envelope from federal prosecutors! Please! Name your terms!”
Luka looked across the desk at me, raising an eyebrow silently.
I walked over, leaned down toward the microphone, and spoke into the speakerphone with absolute, unshakeable calm.
May you like
“There is nothing to negotiate, David,” I said into the receiver. “You made your choice at the hospital yesterday. Now reap what you sowed.”
I reached over and hung up the phone.
