Chapter 7
Vincent Rossi sat in the federal holding cell, wearing a tailored charcoal suit that looked expensive but slightly rumpled. He tapped manicured fingernails against the cold metal table, wearing a smirk that suggested he believed his expensive defense attorney would have him out before breakfast.
The heavy steel door swung open, and Maya Vance walked in, followed by Lieutenant Jenkins. Maya placed a manila folder on the table and sat down without saying a word, her burgundy blazer catching the stark fluorescent light. She simply stared at Rossi until his smug smile began to falter.
"Do you know who I am, Mr. Rossi?" Maya asked quietly.
Rossi cleared his throat, adjusting his silk tie. "I know my rights, Agent. I want my lawyer present. I haven't answered any questions, and frankly, I don't know why I’m sitting in a federal holding cell because some cop broke a car window."
"Thomas Miller didn't just break a window," Maya said, opening the folder to reveal a printed ledger of bank statements and encrypted text message logs between Rossi's burner phone and the patrolman's personal device. "He broke open an entire criminal conspiracy. These texts show every single time you paid him off to fabricate probable cause, impound a vehicle, and route it through your cousin's salvage yard."
Rossi’s eyes flicked to the papers on the table. The color drained from his face, but he forced a nervous chuckle. "Those are fabricated. Anyone can fake text messages. My lawyer is going to shred—"
"Your lawyer is currently in the lobby being served with a federal subpoena for conspiracy and wire fraud," Jenkins interrupted coldly. "And your cousin at the salvage yard has already started talking to federal prosecutors in exchange for witness protection."
The smirk vanished completely. Rossi slumped back in his chair, the reality of his situation finally crashing down around him. "Miller was supposed to be smart," Rossi muttered bitterly. "He told me he had everything under control."
"Miller is an idiot," Maya stated flatly. "And so are you if you thought you could run an extortion ring in broad daylight on Fifth Avenue and never cross paths with someone who could fight back."
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"What do you want?" Rossi asked, his voice dropping to a defeated whisper. "You want me to sign a confession? You want names higher up?"
"I want the entire ledger, Rossi," Maya leaned forward, her gaze piercing. "Every corrupt officer, every judge on your payroll, and every penny you funneled through Apex Holdings. Start talking, and maybe you'll spend your fifties in a medium-security facility instead of a maximum-security prison."
