Chapter 4: The Interrogation Begins
In the high-security holding room of the federal field office downtown, the fluorescent lights hummed a harsh, sterile tune. Julian sat across the stainless-steel table, his right hand tightly bandaged from the glass lacerations he had sustained during the foyer struggle. He wore a standard-issue detention jumpsuit that clashed sharply with his usual arrogance. Across from him sat Agent Miller, the lead investigator who had responded to Arthur’s call, flanked by a digital forensics specialist carrying a ruggedized laptop.
“You’re making a massive mistake,” Julian said, his voice dripping with forced calm. “My father-in-law is an old man whose judgment is clouded by familial bias. This is a private domestic dispute, not a federal matter.”
Agent Miller opened a thick case file, sliding a printed spreadsheet across the metal surface. “Mr. Vance, let’s clear up a misconception right away. While domestic assault falls under state jurisdiction, interstate cyberstalking, wire fraud, and the illegal wiretapping of your wife’s personal devices fall squarely under federal oversight. Especially when corporate networks belonging to Vance Enterprises were used to facilitate the crimes.”
Julian’s eyes flickered down to the spreadsheet, his jaw clenching involuntarily. The papers detailed unauthorized server access, encrypted messaging logs, and large financial transfers routed through Caribbean shell accounts bearing his digital signature.
“Circumstantial data,” Julian scoffed, leaning back in his chair with feigned indifference. “Anyone with network credentials could have accessed those terminals.”
“Including your personal biometric login timestamped at two o'clock this morning?” Miller countered smoothly, tapping the screen of the laptop to display a high-resolution security still. It showed Julian standing over Elena in her bedroom, holding a tablet that displayed her live GPS location. “Your digital footprint is as wide as the crater you made in Arthur Vance’s coffee table, Julian. Furthermore, we executed a search warrant on your vehicle parked outside the estate. We found an unregistered firearm and a dossier containing private medical records belonging to Elena.”
Julian’s face paled beneath the harsh fluorescent glare. The mask of the charming, untouchable executive was rapidly slipping, revealing the cornered, desperate narcissist underneath. He realized that Arthur hadn’t merely reacted in the heat of the moment; the older man had laid a meticulous, inescapable trap.
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“I want my attorney,” Julian muttered, dropping his gaze to the table.
“Your attorney has already been notified and advised not to take your case,” Miller said flatly. “You’re looking at a minimum of fifteen years on the federal charges alone. It’s time to start cooperating, Julian.”
