Chapter 6 - Federal Overreach
The federal agents advanced in a tight, synchronized formation, their windbreakers rustling against the cold metal shelving. Agent Sarah Vance—no relation, but possessing the same unyielding intensity—stepped to the front, holding out a laminated badge and a thick sheaf of legal documents. Her eyes swept over Marcus, ignoring Arthur Pendelton who had melted back into the shadows of the archive stacks.
"Marcus Vance, managing partner," Agent Vance said, her voice echoing off the concrete floor. "You are being served with a federal subpoena and a preservation order for all internal financial records pertaining to the employee welfare fund and associated offshore accounts."
Marcus didn't flinch. He kept his hands visible at his sides, his navy suit jacket buttoned to maintain a semblance of unshakeable authority. He glanced at the open box of forged vouchers on the metal table behind him, knowing the physical evidence was already contaminated by his gloved hands.
"Agent Vance," Marcus said calmly, his voice steady. "You are walking into an active internal investigation. The employee responsible for the recent discrepancies is currently in custody upstairs, escorted by Officer Miller."
Agent Vance didn't blink. She signaled to the two agents flanking her, who immediately moved past Marcus to secure the folding table and the archive boxes.
"Julian Brooks is a low-level scapegoat, Mr. Vance," Agent Vance replied, stepping closer until she was standing within arm's reach. "Our financial crimes division has been tracking these discrepancies for fourteen months. The trail doesn't lead to Julian’s desk. It leads directly to the master administrative terminal registered under your biometric key."
Marcus felt the cold reality of the trap close around him. Arthur had played his hand with terrifying precision. Every digital audit trail, every automated backup, and now the physical vouchers in the basement had been systematically altered to pin the entire thirty-year embezzlement scheme on Marcus himself.
"Someone has spoofed my administrative credentials," Marcus stated firmly, maintaining eye contact without a hint of hesitation. "I demand an independent digital forensics team review the server access logs from last Tuesday at three in the morning."
"You'll have plenty of time to request forensics from a holding cell," Agent Vance said, nodding to her subordinates. "Agent Cooper, cuff him."
May you like
Before Agent Cooper could step forward, the emergency Klaxon in the basement ceiling suddenly began to wail, flashing a strobing crimson light across the concrete walls. The overhead sprinklers hissed to life, showering the archive boxes with freezing water as the automated fire suppression system triggered prematurely across the entire subterranean level.
---
