Chapter 13 - The Anatomy of a Fraud
By 3:00 AM, Clara and Lily were sitting in the quiet, climate-controlled warmth of David Vance’s downtown corner office. The baby had finally nursed and fallen into an exhausted, deep sleep on the plush leather sofa, bundled in David's cashmere overcoat.
David walked in holding two ceramic mugs of hot tea, setting one on the glass table in front of Clara. He opened a thick manila folder and dropped it between them.
"The state prosecutor is already reviewing the dashcam footage from the cruisers," David said, sinking into his high-backed chair. "Eleanor’s bail hearing won't happen until tomorrow afternoon. Given the charges—felony endangerment of a child, reckless endangerment, and vehicular assault—she isn't walking out without a massive bond and an immediate restraining order."
Clara took a sip of the tea, feeling the warmth spread through her hollow chest. "What about Penny?"
"Penny cracked thirty seconds into her interrogation," David smiled grimly. "She traded everything to keep herself out of prison. She gave up the paper trail, Clara."
David pulled out a stack of financial printouts from the folder.
"The vintage roadster was never at risk of repo. Penny sold that car eight months ago to a private buyer in Florida. She and Eleanor set up a shell company using the exact name of a legitimate loan agency. Every single dollar Marcus 'wired' to save his sister was diverted straight into an offshore investment account managed by Eleanor’s financial advisor."
Clara stared at the documents, her stomach churning. "Marcus was stealing from us... to pay his mother?"
"Marcus was an idiot who thought he was being a savior," David corrected bluntly. "Eleanor told him the trust was in jeopardy because of Penny’s supposed debts. She convinced Marcus that if they paid off the fake lien, the family estate would stay intact. Eleanor was embezzling from her own son’s marital assets to fund her retirement in the Cayman Islands."
"And Marcus?" Clara whispered. "Where does this leave him?"
"Marcus is currently at the central precinct trying to post his mother's bond," David said, checking his watch. "Except the hospital board just got an automated alert about his family’s arrest. The chief of staff called me ten minutes ago. Marcus's surgical fellowship has been suspended pending an internal review of his personal conduct and financial standing."
The office phone on David’s desk began to flash red.
"That’s him," David said, glancing at the caller ID. "He’s been calling every five minutes. Do you want to take it, or should I tell him to speak to the bailiff?"
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Clara looked at Lily sleeping peacefully on the sofa, then reached out and picked up the receiver.
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