Chapter 6
Back in the main bullpen, the afternoon sun filtered through the reinforced glass windows, casting long, dusty shafts across the desks. Marcus Taylor was leaning over a computer terminal, printing out financial reports and DMV records while sipping lukewarm black coffee.
Evelyn walked over, tossing Elena’s signed digital transfer onto the desk. “We have corroboration. Elena handed over the internal audit files. Richard has been bleeding his firm dry for over twenty-four months. The apartment he rented for Chloe was leased under a shell corporation tied directly to embezzled funds.”
Marcus whistled softly, running a hand through his thinning gray hair. “So the girl was living in a money-laundering safe house without even knowing it. That explains why Richard panicked when the audit hit. If federal regulators traced those shell companies to Chloe, she’d be looking at accessory charges, even if she was clueless.”
“Exactly,” Evelyn said, crossing her arms. “And that’s why he tried to get them across state lines. He wasn’t trying to hide an affair; he was trying to hide his accomplices, whether she knew she was one or not.”
“Where is Chloe now?” Marcus asked, glancing toward the family waiting room.
“Social services is helping her settle into a temporary shelter, but she’s terrified,” Evelyn admitted. “She has no family in the state, no job skills outside of front-desk reception, and now she realizes the man she thought loved her was just using her as a human financial shield. She feels completely hollowed out.”
“We need to bring Richard back in for a formal interview regarding the financial fraud,” Marcus said, standing up and grabbing his jacket. “Federal agents from the white-collar crime division are already on their way down from the federal building downtown. They caught wind of the arrest and realized who we’ve got in holding.”
Evelyn nodded. “I’ll sit in on the interview. I want to see the exact moment he realizes his shiny gold watch and custom suit aren’t going to buy him out of this one.”
As they walked down the hallway toward the holding cells, the heavy metal door swung open to reveal Richard Sterling sitting at the stainless-steel interrogation table. The cuffs were off, but his posture was still slumped, his expensive suit wrinkled from being pressed against the hood of his SUV. He looked up as Evelyn and Marcus entered, his face tight with controlled rage.
“I want my lawyer,” Richard said before they even sat down. “You’ve held me past the statutory limit for a simple traffic dispute. I demand my release.”
May you like
Evelyn pulled out her chair, the legs scraping loudly against the concrete floor. She sat down slowly, placing a thick stack of printed bank statements directly in front of him.
“You’re not being held for a traffic dispute anymore, Mr. Sterling,” Evelyn said calmly. “Federal wire fraud, embezzlement, and interstate flight to avoid prosecution. Want to talk about logistics now?”
