Chapter 6 - THE DOUBLE-CROSS EXPOSEDThe study erupted into complete chaos. The board members Julian had brought along panicked, scrambling toward the doors only to find the hallway surrounded by federal agents.
Adrian stood frozen, watching the surreal scene unfold. He looked from Julian, who was cursing violently as he was dragged away by federal marshals, to Vanessa, who was casually reapplying her lipstick in the mirror reflection of the bookshelf.
"You played both sides," Adrian said slowly, his voice laced with venom. "You tried to kill my daughter, and now you think walking in here with a wire makes you a hero?"
Vanessa snapped her compact shut with a sharp click and turned to face Adrian, a sickeningly sweet smile returning to her face. "Hero? No, Adrian. A survivor. The state attorney general has signed an immunity agreement for my cooperation in dismantling Julian’s entire syndicate. Which means... I walk free."
"Free?" Sophie shouted, stepping forward, her eyes blazing with fury. "You tried to kill me! You swapped my allergy label! You threw my medicine in the fire! The kitchen camera caught everything!"
"Ah, the camera," Vanessa chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Yes, well, technology is tricky, isn't it? But legally speaking, since I cooperated with federal prosecutors to uncover a multi-million-dollar corporate conspiracy, my prior charges are being suspended under federal witness protection guidelines."
Detective Thorne cleared his throat awkwardly, stepping between them. "Mr. Vance, I know it’s hard to swallow, but her cooperation was the only way to legally pin the corporate takeover and murder conspiracy on Julian. Her testimony guarantees a life sentence for him."
"And what about justice for my daughter?" Adrian growled, stepping up to the detective, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. "She’s a monster!"
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"Justice takes many forms, Adrian," a calm, familiar voice echoed from the doorway.
Everyone turned. Standing there with a calm, serene smile was Martha, the elderly head housekeeper who had served the Vance family for over thirty years. In her wrinkled hands, she held an old, dusty leather ledger.
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