Chapter 16 - The Signal
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The digital screen on Evan's wrist glowed bright blue in the dim light of the altar.
TRANSFER COMPLETE - $600,000 USD.
Evan glanced at the watch and visibly relaxed his shoulders. He thought he had won. Even if the wedding fell apart now, he believed the money was safely secured in his mother's untraceable offshore account.
That tiny, arrogant movement—checking his watch—was the exact signal Detective Alvarez had been waiting for.
I looked past Evan, locking eyes with Alvarez in the front row. I gave her a microscopic nod.
Outside, in the catering van, the cyber-warrants team intercepted the transaction ping in real-time. They captured the destination routing number, linked it directly to the LM Heritage Fund, and froze the assets before they could clear international banking protocols.
I slowly slid my multi-million dollar engagement ring off my finger. The metal felt heavy and repulsive. I dropped it directly onto Evan’s folded vow card resting on the altar.
“It’s over, Evan,” I whispered.
Evan sneered, wiping sweat from his forehead. “You think you can just walk away? I told you last night what happens if you fight me. I’ll burn your father’s name to the ground just like I burned that warehouse.”
“We have it,” Alvarez said quietly, stepping out of the pew and walking deliberately toward the altar.
I reached forward, lifted the microphone from its heavy brass stand, and held it out toward the detective.
May you like
Evan looked between me and the approaching woman in the navy dress, confusion finally piercing his arrogant armor.
“Detective,” I said, my voice ringing out across the breathless cathedral. “You may play the recording now.”
