Chapter 14 - The Snapping Trap
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Before Nathan could process the question, the heavy double doors of the boardroom opened smoothly.
Two uniformed police officers stepped inside, followed by two plainclothes detectives from the District Attorney’s Financial Crimes Unit.
Lorraine gasped, leaping out of her chair so fast her purse fell to the carpet. “What is the meaning of this?!”
Lead Detective Miller stepped forward, pulling a folded paper from his suit jacket.
“Nathan Vale, Lorraine Vale,” Detective Miller announced loudly. “We have warrants for your arrest.”
Nathan sprang to his feet, pointing a trembling finger at me. “She set me up! This is a corporate frame-job! I have immunity! We were negotiating a civil settlement!”
“Mr. Vale,” Detective Miller said coolly, pulling a pair of steel handcuffs from his belt. “We’ve been listening to this entire meeting from the observation room next door. You just committed felony extortion and confessed to data theft in front of law enforcement officers.”
Nathan’s knees buckled. He looked around the room in absolute horror, his arrogant swagger evaporating completely.
“No... no, wait!” Nathan stuttered, looking at Dana. “We can renegotiate! I’ll delete the files! I won't ask for the money!”
“It’s too late, Nathan,” I said softly.
Suddenly, the door to the adjoining observation room opened.
Claire stepped out.
She wore a sharp navy dress, her posture upright, her expression cool and unyielding. She walked straight over to the table and looked her husband dead in the eye.
Nathan stared at her, his eyes wild with disbelief.
“Claire... baby, please!” Nathan pleaded, his voice cracking into a pathetic whimper. “Tell them! Tell them it’s a mistake! You know I love you! I did all of this for our future!”
Claire looked down at him as the detective pulled his arms behind his back, clicking the handcuffs shut around his wrists.
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“You didn't do this for our future, Nathan,” Claire said, her voice resonant and completely free of fear.
“You did it because you thought I was too stupid to stop you.”
