Chapter 15 - The Mistaken Target
Derek let out a harsh, barking laugh, but it sounded incredibly thin and hollow in the silent room.
"You think you can threaten me?" Derek sneered, his arrogance overriding his panic. "Go ahead and cry to the authorities, Lena. Nobody is going to believe a bruised, hysterical, pill-addicted wife over a highly respected corporate CEO. I own the narrative. You have nothing."
He ended the call abruptly.
I set the phone down on the table, looking at Elena and Detective Shaw. We had the entire confession on tape.
Derek's final, desperate insult was the absolute proof that he had targeted the wrong woman. He still fundamentally believed this was a messy marriage dispute that would be decided by whoever had the better public relations spin. He completely failed to understand that the game had shifted. Every false invoice, every offshore wire transfer, every deleted email, and every forged signature had become a massive, undeniable, meticulously documented timeline. And forensic timelines do not care who speaks louder, who wears the better suit, or who commands the most social influence.
"He's going forward with the press conference tomorrow morning," Elena confirmed, checking her emails. "He's planning a massive, catered closing ceremony at the downtown ballroom to announce the Halcyon acquisition before the employees, the local investors, and the business reporters."
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"Perfect," Sarah Jenkins said, her prosecutor's eyes flashing with predatory anticipation. "We delay the arrest until he steps up to that podium. Let him stand in front of the entire city and claim ownership of the stolen empire."
Detective Shaw grabbed his coat. "I'll go get the warrants signed by the judge. We raid the house, the company servers, and Marlene’s private bank accounts exactly five minutes after he takes the stage."
