Chapter 31 - The Deposition
The deposition took place on Monday morning in the grand conference room of the Vanguard Agency. We had home-field advantage. The room was designed to psychologically intimidate hostile witnesses. The massive oak table, the cold lighting, and the absolute silence all contributed to an atmosphere of inescapable truth.
Richard Kensington sat on one side of the table, flanked by two highly-paid lawyers who looked incredibly nervous. He was sweating slightly, adjusting his expensive tie with shaking hands.
I sat directly across from him, with Marcus to my left handling the legal documentation, and a certified court reporter at the head of the table.
"Let the record reflect that Mr. Richard Kensington is present for a sworn deposition," Marcus began, his tone sharp and professional. "Mr. Kensington, you understand you are under oath?"
"I do," Richard ground out through clenched teeth.
"Excellent," Marcus said, opening a thick binder. "Let’s begin with Exhibit A. Can you identify the document before you?"
Marcus slid a printed copy of an offshore wire transfer across the table.
"It appears to be a bank document," Richard said dismissively. "I handle thousands of transactions a year. I cannot recall every specific one."
I leaned forward, folding my hands on the table. "Allow me to refresh your memory, Richard. That document details a transfer of twelve million dollars from a domestic trust fund directly into an offshore shell company in the Cayman Islands, named 'K-Holdings International.' Is that your company?"
"I decline to answer on the advice of counsel," Richard sneered.
"That's fine," I smiled coldly. "Because the digital footprint on the transfer explicitly matches the IP address of the private router in your Lake Forest estate. The same router you used to forge your daughter's digital signature on a power of attorney document three years ago."
Richard’s eyes widened, panic finally piercing his arrogance. "That is a lie! That data was obtained illegally!"
"Actually, it was obtained by a highly secure, court-ordered mirror of a vulnerable network," Marcus corrected smoothly. "But let's move to Exhibit B. The life insurance policies."
Marcus slid five separate documents across the table. "You took out fifty million dollars in life insurance on your daughter, naming yourself as the sole beneficiary, while simultaneously liquidating her trust. Why would a father need fifty million dollars upon the death of his twenty-two-year-old daughter?"
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"To protect the corporate legacy!" Richard shouted, slamming his fist on the table, losing control entirely. "She is reckless! She would have ruined everything I built!"
"No, Richard," I said, my voice dropping to a terrifying, quiet whisper. "You ruined it. And now, you are going to pay for it."
