The crackle of static echoed through my living room before Oscar’s voice came through the speaker. It wasn’t the gentle, soft-spoken voice he used when he called Lucy his "queen." It was cold, sharp, and dripping with malicious confidence.

Victor’s smile faded, replaced by a flicker of confusion. "What's so funny?"

"You're a brilliant businessman, Victor," I said, reaching into my inner jacket pocket. "But you made one fatal mistake when you brought Julian into your inner circle."

Julian’s eyes went wide. "What... what are you talking about?"

I pulled out a small black flash drive and tossed it onto the mahogany desk. It landed with a soft click beside Victor’s scotch glass.

"Julian is a coward," I explained smoothly. "When the police raided his office this morning, he realized he was going to take the fall for grand larceny while you sat up here in your penthouse sipping fifty-year-old scotch. So, he made a deal with Mr. Medina three hours ago."

Victor whipped his head toward Julian, his face darkening with terrifying fury. "Julian... what did you do?"

"Dad, I had to!" Julian whimpered, backing away toward the windows. "They were going to give me twenty years! The FBI opened a federal wire fraud investigation!"

"That flash drive contains every offshore transaction, every forged deed, every shell company transfer, and the original audio files detailing the hit-and-run plot from fifteen years ago," Mr. Medina chimed in, stepping forward. "Julian kept receipts of everything you ever forced him to do as his collateral policy."

Victor stared at the drive, his hand shaking as he reached for it.

"And that's not all," I added, taking a step closer to the desk. "Look out your window, Victor."

Victor turned his head slowly toward the floor-to-ceiling glass.

Down on the street, twenty stories below, flashing red and blue lights illuminated the snowy night. Three black federal sedans pulled into the building’s private circular driveway, accompanied by armed agents spilling out onto the plaza.

"Federal Bureau of Investigation," I said softly. "Interstate wire fraud, racketeering, forced paper signing under duress, and conspiracy to commit capital murder. You aren't dealing with local Denver civil court anymore, Victor. You're dealing with the United States government."

The heavy wooden doors of the penthouse office burst open with a loud slam.

"FBI! Don't move!" four tactical agents flooded the room, firearms drawn, their tactical lights blinding the dim room.

Julian instantly threw his hands up, dropping to his knees on the carpet.

Victor sat frozen in his leather chair, staring at me with pure, unadulterated hatred as two federal agents stepped behind his desk, pulled his arms behind his back, and slapped heavy iron handcuffs onto his wrists.

As they hauled Victor toward the door, he stopped beside me, his breathing heavy and ragged.

"You ruined everything, Carter," Victor spat, blood dripping from where he had bitten his own lip in rage. "You think Lucy is safe? You think she can recover from what she lost?"