Chapter 13 - Carol's Desperate Play
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At 2:00 PM, while Julian was being processed at the 15th Precinct for violating a protective order, Carol Vance arrived at Sarah Vance's law firm in Midtown. She didn't have a lawyer with her; her hair was disheveled, her expensive designer jacket wrinkled and unbuttoned.
She burst through the glass doors of the conference room where Sarah and I were reviewing the financial ledgers.
"Ara!" Carol cried out, throwing her hands up in a theatrical plea as two security guards followed her in. "Ara, please! You have to talk to the district attorney! They're holding Julian on felony stalker charges!"
I sat at the head of the polished mahogany table, sipping my tea, not bothering to stand up. "Hello, Carol."
Carol rushed to the edge of the table, her face contorted in desperation. "He's your husband, Ara! You swore vows! If he goes to prison, his career is destroyed! My family reputation will be ruined!"
"Your family reputation was built on stolen money, Carol," I said quietly, sliding a printed copy of the 2019 power-of-attorney document across the table. "Do you recognize your signature at the bottom of this page?"
Carol glanced down at the paper, her eyes widening in momentary shock before she quickly composed herself.
"I... I signed what Arthur asked me to sign!" Carol lied, her voice rising an octave. "Arthur gave us that equity! He was grateful to Julian for helping him manage his debts!"
I leaned forward, placing both hands flat on the table.
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"My father didn't have debts, Carol," I stated sharply. "And you just admitted on tape—in front of three witnesses and two security cameras—that you signed equity transfer agreements involving my father's estate."
Carol stopped breathing. She looked up at the ceiling corner, noticing the blinking red light of the room's recording system for the first time.
