Chapter 9 - The Ultimate Audit
I stared at the useless plastic drive, the crushing weight of total defeat pressing down on my chest.
Eleanor had won.
She had successfully orchestrated a flawless financial crime and a perfect murder frame-up.
I was going to spend the rest of my life in a federal penitentiary while they lived in my house.
The detective stood up, shaking his head in disgust.
"We are processing your transfer to the county jail," he said, turning toward the door.
"Wait," I said, a sudden, brilliant spark of realization igniting in my mind.
I didn't need the drive to prove they were committing fraud.
I had already laid a financial trap that no one, not even Eleanor, could possibly escape.
"Detective, what time is it?" I asked urgently.
He glanced at his watch. "It is 8:55 AM on Monday."
"In exactly five minutes, an offshore bank is going to attempt to wire $1.25 million into a company called Nebula Systems," I explained rapidly.
"My husband forged my signature to authorize that loan against my property."
The detective rolled his eyes, clearly tired of my supposed lies.
"But I placed a Level 4 Corporate Lockdown on my identity yesterday," I continued, speaking faster now.
"When that wire transfer fails at 9:00 AM, it automatically triggers an immediate, mandatory FBI financial crimes investigation."
"The FBI algorithm will instantly trace the origin of the loan, the forged documents, and the previous $480,000 they stole."
The detective paused, his hand hovering over the doorknob.
"If you want the biggest collar of your career, you need to pull the financial records for Nebula Systems right now," I challenged him.
He stared at me for a long moment, weighing the absolute certainty in my eyes.
He pulled out his phone and made a quick call to the precinct's financial crimes division.
We sat in excruciating silence as the digital clock on the wall slowly ticked toward nine o'clock.
At exactly 9:01 AM, the detective's phone suddenly rang.
He listened for a few seconds, his eyes widening in complete shock.
"The FBI just raided the Nebula Systems office and the Vance family estate," the detective whispered, hanging up the phone.
"They found the murder weapon hidden in Eric's private safe, along with the original forged documents."
A massive wave of relief washed over me, so powerful it brought tears to my eyes.
The detective pulled out his keys and unlocked my handcuffs.
"You are free to go, Clara," he said respectfully.
May you like
I rubbed my bruised wrists, ready to walk out of the precinct and reclaim my stolen life.
But as I walked into the main lobby, I saw Evelyn sitting on a bench, chatting casually with an FBI agent.
