Chapter 10: The Interrogation Room
The interrogation room at the federal detention center was stark, windowless, and bathed in the harsh glare of an overhead fluorescent light. Evelyn Carter sat at the center of the metal table, her posture as rigid as ever. She still wore her blue button-down shirt and black pants, though the fabric was slightly rumpled from her transport and booking. She had refused a standard holding cell, demanding to speak directly with the lead prosecutor. The heavy metal door creaked open, and Marcus Vance stepped inside, sliding a thick manila folder containing the downloaded ledger printouts across the table. Evelyn did not look at the folder; instead, her cold, calculating eyes locked onto Marcus with unmasked disdain.
"You think a few recycled spreadsheets and disgruntled employee testimonies are going to dismantle forty years of institutional stability, Marcus?" Evelyn asked, her voice steady and chillingly calm. "You're playing a game you don't understand. The people backing this firm hold debts that politicians and judges alike are afraid to collect."
Marcus pulled out the metal chair opposite her and sat down slowly, resting his forearms on the table. "Those debts are exactly what we're auditing, Evelyn. Your era of ruling through fear, intimidation, and physical assault is officially over. We have the offshore accounts, the internal emails, and the whistleblower logs."
A microscopic flicker of genuine concern crossed Evelyn’s face, though she quickly masked it behind a dry, arrogant chuckle. "You have nothing that will stand up against a supreme court appeal. And as for the little incident in the office—that was a private disciplinary matter between a superior and an insubordinate employee."
"Striking an employee with a wooden cane and threatening her livelihood isn't a disciplinary matter, Evelyn. It's felony assault, paired with corporate extortion," Marcus replied, his tone ice-cold. "Your attorneys are currently sitting in the lobby trying to negotiate a plea deal to save whatever is left of your personal assets. But I'm here to tell you there will be no deals."
May you like
Evelyn leaned forward, her hands flat on the metal table, her diamond-encrusted rings catching the harsh light. "You're making a catastrophic mistake, boy. When the dust settles, I'll be walking free, and everyone who dared to cross me will find themselves permanently unemployable in this city."
Marcus didn't flinch. He stood up, picked up his folder, and looked down at the aging tyrant with a mixture of pity and finality. "The only place you'll be walking, Evelyn, is behind glass."
