Chapter 2 - The Fall of Vance Merritt PartnersWhile Malcolm was fighting a security guard in the freezing snow, a thousand miles away in Manhattan, the corporate headquarters of Vance Merritt Partners was waking up to an execution.
At 9:30 AM, the senior partners walked into the glass-walled boardroom on the forty-fifth floor, expecting a routine holiday briefing. Instead, they found Ryan Brooks, Malcolm’s personal attorney, sweating profusely at the head of the mahogany table.
Sitting across from him was Silas Reed, flanked by two junior associates carrying thick stacks of federal subpoenas and forensic audits.
“What is the meaning of this?” demanded Arthur Vance, Malcolm’s uncle and the senior board member. “Where is Malcolm?”
Silas Reed did not stand up. He slowly uncapped a heavy fountain pen, placed it on the table, and looked up with a predator's calm.
“Malcolm Vance is currently discovering that his wife has liquidated every single asset he used to finance Project Apex,” Silas said, his voice echoing off the glass. “Furthermore, our firm has uncovered a systematic pattern of wire fraud, forged electronic signatures, and corporate embezzlement totaling $4.2 million.”
Ryan Brooks choked on his own saliva. “You can't prove—those documents were sealed—”
Silas slid a single sheet of paper across the table. It bore the seal of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
“They were sealed,” Silas interrupted smoothly, “until Elena Vance unlocked them using her legal authority as a forensic auditor and primary trust holder. As of nine o'clock this morning, the board has been dissolved, an emergency receiver has been appointed, and every corporate account linked to Malcolm Vance has been frozen by federal order.”
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Arthur Vance stared at the paper, his face turning the color of ash. “My nephew... what has he done?”
“No,” Silas corrected softly. “What did you all let him get away with?”
