"My husband sent me a message from Cancun: “I left with your best friend. We’re not coming back.” I replied with only two words.

Evelyn Cross sat in a sterile interrogation room at the local FBI field office. I sat beside her, perfectly composed, while two federal agents reviewed the printed documents from Samantha's USB drive.

"This clears you of the embezzlement," Agent Reynolds said, looking up with a newfound respect. "Your husband orchestrated the entire thing. But Richard Sterling is in the wind, and if he reaches Miami, he has the resources to disappear into South America permanently."

"He's going to the private marina in Key Biscayne," I said. "He has a safety deposit box at a private offshore banking branch there. It's the only place he can get clean cash without triggering a federal alert."

The agents exchanged a look. "How do you know this?"

"Because I was married to him for fifteen years," I replied, my voice steady. "He is a creature of habit. He thinks he is James Bond, but he is just a scared, predictable man. I know exactly how he thinks."

"We can have a tactical team waiting for him in Miami," Agent Reynolds said.

"No," Evelyn interjected, leaning forward. "My client wants a guarantee. Full, unconditional immunity in writing, signed by the US Attorney, protecting her from any civil or criminal liability regarding her husband's actions. Furthermore, she wants the frozen assets in their joint accounts unfrozen and returned to her sole control, as they are legally hers."

"We can't just hand over millions—"

"The money in the joint accounts is from her inheritance and real estate investments, Agent Reynolds, completely separate from the stolen funds," Evelyn countered sharply. "Sign the immunity deal, unfreeze her life, and she will hand you Richard Sterling on a silver platter. Say no, and we walk out, and you can try to find him before the Russian mob does."