Chapter 8 - The Turn of the Tide
My laughter continued for a few seconds before I finally caught my breath.
Daniel and his family stared at me as if I had completely lost my mind.
"I am laughing because you are the most arrogant, stupid man I have ever met," I said clearly.
Daniel slammed his fist on the dining table, rattling the expensive coffee cups.
"I took every single penny you have, Claire, you have absolutely nothing left!" he screamed.
I smiled calmly and shook my head in pity.
"You didn't steal my corporate funds, Daniel," I explained in a gentle, mocking tone.
"The account you emptied this morning was a honeypot account explicitly set up by federal investigators," I revealed.
The color completely drained from Daniel's face in an instant.
"My accountant flagged your bizarre financial behavior months ago, so we set a trap to see what you would do," I said.
By transferring that specific money, Daniel had committed federal wire fraud across state lines.
Vanessa let out a furious scream and grabbed a heavy pair of metal scissors from the desk.
She lunged directly at me, aiming the sharp blades right at my face to shut me up.
The taller FBI agent moved with terrifying speed, grabbing Vanessa's wrist and twisting it violently backward.
The scissors clattered harmlessly to the floor as Vanessa shrieked in pain.
Suddenly, the heavy front door of the house was kicked open with a massive crash.
Five local police officers burst into the living room with their weapons drawn and flashlight beams cutting through the air.
"Nobody move!" the lead local officer shouted at the top of his lungs.
Margaret immediately fell to her knees and started producing fake, hysterical tears.
"Thank God you are here, officers!" Margaret cried, pointing a dramatic finger directly at me.
"My daughter-in-law has completely lost her mind and is holding us all hostage!" she lied flawlessly.
The lead local police officer completely ignored the two men in suits standing near the table.
He marched directly toward me and grabbed my arms roughly, pulling them behind my back.
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"Claire Bennett, you are under arrest for domestic assault and corporate embezzlement," the local officer announced.
I realized with absolute horror that Margaret had called her corrupt police contacts to frame me before the sale.
