Chapter 12: The Turning Point
Arthur picked up the phone immediately, pressing it to his ear. "Vance? What did you find?"
"Arthur, you need to get down to the precinct," Vance’s voice came through the speaker, tight and urgent. "Julianne’s defense attorney just submitted a flurry of emergency motions, claiming her arrest was politically motivated and demanding her immediate release on bail. But that's not the primary issue."
Arthur stood up, his grip tightening on the edge of the desk. "What else is there?"
"We intercepted a encrypted communication sent from her holding cell this morning," Vance continued grimly. "She’s been trying to access that offshore Vanguard Holdings account you just discovered. More importantly, she's trying to liquidate a secondary trust fund—one you set up years ago specifically for Leo's education and future care."
Elena, listening closely, gasped softly and covered her mouth with her hand.
"She can't touch that," Arthur said fiercely. "That trust is legally locked behind dual-authorization signatures."
"Not anymore," Vance warned. "She somehow secured a power of attorney override through a notary public in Manhattan three weeks ago. If those funds move offshore within the next two hours, they're gone for good, and recovering them through international jurisdiction will take years."
Arthur slammed his hand down on the mahogany desk. "What do we need to do?"
"You need to sign an emergency injunction freezing all domestic corporate assets immediately," Vance instructed. "And you need to bring the physical documentation down to the federal courthouse in Hartford before noon. If you miss that window, she walks out on bail and cleans you out."
Arthur hung up without saying goodbye. He looked at Elena, the adrenaline surging through his veins. "I have to go to Hartford. Now."
"Go," Elena said instantly, standing up and grabbing his car keys from the side table. "I'll stay here with Leo. He won't even know you're gone. I'll make sure he's safe, and I'll keep all the doors locked."
May you like
Arthur paused, looking at her with absolute trust. For the first time since the ordeal began, he didn't feel entirely alone. He nodded, took his keys from her hand, and bolted from the study.
***
