Chapter 4 - The Federal Intervention
The piercing wail of multiple police sirens echoed down the empty downtown street within three minutes of the silent alarm.
I jumped out of the plush leather chair and stared at the corrupt branch manager with absolute fury.
"You have been helping Derek hide the stolen money this entire time," I realized aloud.
"Your husband pays incredibly generous consulting fees to ensure his transactions are never questioned," the manager confessed proudly.
Elena grabbed my arm and tried to pull me back toward the glass doors of the bank lobby.
"We need to leave before the local police trap us inside this building," my attorney urged frantically.
It was too late, as four heavily armed police officers burst through the entrance with their weapons drawn.
"Put your hands in the air and step away from the desk!" the lead officer shouted aggressively.
I raised my trembling hands, fully expecting to be hauled away to a psychiatric ward under Derek's fraudulent order.
The officers roughly pushed me against the wall and clamped heavy steel handcuffs tightly around my wrists.
"You are making a massive mistake, she is the victim of a severe financial crime!" Elena yelled at the cops.
"We are just following orders from the local authorities," the lead officer replied with a completely blank expression.
My heart skipped a beat as a tall, imposing man in a sharp gray suit walked slowly into the bank.
He flashed a shiny gold badge and introduced himself as Special Agent Davis from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
"I will take custody of the suspect from here, officers," Agent Davis commanded with absolute, undeniable authority.
I let out a massive sigh of relief, believing that my automated suspicious activity report had successfully triggered a real investigation.
"Thank God you are here, my husband is attempting to steal ten million dollars in federal grant money," I pleaded.
Agent Davis gripped my arm tightly and escorted me out to his unmarked black SUV parked on the curb.
He forcefully shoved me into the back seat and slammed the heavy door shut before Elena could follow us.
The agent climbed into the driver's seat and locked the doors, completely trapping me inside the dark vehicle.
Instead of driving toward the federal courthouse, he pulled into a deserted alleyway and put the car in park.
He turned around to face me, his eyes cold and entirely devoid of any professional integrity.
"Derek warned me that you were a highly problematic woman who liked to snoop around in things that didn't concern you."
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The agent pulled a suppressed handgun from his shoulder holster and pointed it directly at my chest.
"You are going to hand over the encrypted evidence drive right now, or you will not live to see the sunrise."
