Chapter 6
Detective Miller’s footsteps echoed across the marble floor of the foyer, distinct and purposeful. He didn't wait to be invited into the parlor; he walked straight through the double archway, holding a crisp legal document in a clear plastic sleeve. Marcus didn't flinch, merely closing the leather folder on the coffee table with a soft snap, maintaining the posture of a man who dealt with law enforcement on a regular basis.
"Mrs. Vance," Detective Miller said, his voice measured and devoid of theatrical malice. "I’m afraid our conversation needs to continue down at the precinct. I have a search warrant for the premises, and a provisional arrest warrant issued on charges of domestic assault and reckless endangerment."
Clara stood tall, her posture straightening as the adrenaline chased away the shock. She looked from Miller to Marcus, seeing the invisible threads connecting the police investigation to her husband’s calculated desertion.
"You're arresting me based on a staged fall and footage from a camera my husband hid without my consent?" Clara asked, her voice steady, though her hands trembled slightly at her sides.
"We are arresting you based on probable cause established by sworn testimony from the injured party, corroborating audio logs, and financial records that indicate a severe motive for domestic discord," Miller replied calmly. He motioned to the officers behind him. "You have the right to legal counsel, Clara. I suggest you use it."
Marcus stepped forward, raising a hand in a placating gesture. "Detective Miller, as legal counsel for the estate, I must advise you that Mrs. Vance’s arrest under these specific circumstances may precipitate significant corporate liabilities. My client, Mr. Julian Vance, is currently out of the country on legitimate business, and we are prepared to post bond immediately."
Miller shot Marcus a sharp, assessing look. "Your client is currently the subject of an international financial inquiry, Mr. Sterling. The federal authorities were looped in twenty minutes ago regarding those offshore transfers you were just reviewing. I’d worry less about Mrs. Vance’s corporate liabilities and more about where Mr. Vance plans to hide when Interpol catches up with his private charter."
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Marcus’s jaw tightened for a fraction of a second—a micro-expression of panic that Clara caught instantly. So Marcus wasn't just Julian’s advisor; he was an accomplice. The realization clicked into place with the precision of a clockwork mechanism.
"Take me to the precinct, Detective," Clara said, her voice resolute as she picked up her dark red shawl and draped it over her shoulders with deliberate grace. "I have nothing to hide. But I promise you, when I am done explaining what my husband and my sister have built in this house, the ceiling is going to come down on all of you."
