Chapter 14 - The Final Appeal
The past attempted to intrude upon their peace one final, desperate time.
Marcus’s expensive, aggressive legal team had officially filed an appellate motion, arguing that the forensic evidence Daniel had provided to the federal authorities was obtained unlawfully and should be entirely dismissed.
Daniel received the urgent notification directly from the District Attorney on a quiet Thursday evening.
Elena was reading a book on the sofa when Daniel walked in, reading the email on his encrypted tablet.
"What is it?"
Elena asked, noticing the sudden, dangerous sharpening of his jawline.
"Marcus is filing for an appeal,"
Daniel replied, handing her the tablet.
"Are we going to have to testify again?"
Elena asked, a brief flicker of anxiety crossing her features as she thought about returning to a courtroom.
"We aren't doing anything,"
Daniel promised, a cold, lethal, utterly ruthless smile touching his lips.
"I anticipated this move the day he was sentenced. I held back three highly encrypted ledgers detailing a decade of his offshore bribery accounts and human trafficking investments."
Daniel took the tablet back, his eyes burning with absolute, protective fire.
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"I just sent the decryption keys directly to the federal prosecutor. His appeal won't just be denied, Elena. It is going to instantly trigger a federal racketeering and conspiracy charge."
Marcus had arrogantly tried to play a game of chess with a man who had already burned the entire board to the ground.
