Chapter 3 - The Boardroom Execution
The main branch of the First National Bank of the Valley was a fortress of marble and brass. At 2:30 p.m., Ray and Daniel walked through the heavy glass doors, their faces filled with triumphant greed. They were scheduled to meet with the representatives of the warehouse syndicate to sign the closing documents for the estate sale.
Ray swept his cashmere coat open, stepping into the private executive boardroom with the stride of a conqueror. Daniel followed, humming a quiet tune, already browsing luxury yacht listings on his phone.
“Ah, gentlemen,” Ray said loudly as he approached the long mahogany table. “Sorry for the delay. The storm caused some logistical issues, but we are ready to finalize the—”
Ray stopped dead in his tracks.
Sitting at the head of the table was not the corporate representative of the syndicate. It was me. Beside me sat Arthur Pendelton, the District Attorney, flanked by two senior investigators from the State Internal Revenue Service and three uniform police officers.
“Valerie?” Daniel gasped, his phone slipping from his fingers and clattering against the polished wood. “What the hell are you doing here? This is a private corporate meeting!”
“Sit down, Daniel,” I said, gesturing to the two empty chairs across from me. “You too, Ray. We have a lot of paperwork to go over.”
Ray’s face darkened, his veins bulging against his stiff collar. “I don't know what kind of game you’re playing, you ungrateful little bitch, but I am the legal executor of Evelyn’s estate. I have the power of attorney right here.” He slammed a leather folder onto the table.
Arthur Pendelton, the District Attorney, didn't even look at the folder. He simply leaned forward, his hands folded calmly.
“Mr. Vance, that power of attorney was officially invalidated three hours ago by the State Supreme Court. Furthermore, a forensic analysis of the digital signature stamps indicates that your son, Daniel, utilized a high-resolution scan of your wife’s signature from her 2024 medical records to forge her consent on the deed transfer. That is a class-A felony.”
“That’s a lie!” Daniel shouted, his voice rising into a terrified shriek. “Mom signed it! She gave it to us because she wanted to support my business! Valerie is manipulating the records! She’s using her company to hack our accounts!”
“Speaking of your accounts, Daniel,” I said, pulling up a document on my tablet and turning it toward him. “As of 1:15 p.m., Vance Development has been forced into involuntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy due to systemic fraud. The sports car you drove here today? It’s currently being hooked up to a tow truck in the bank’s parking lot. The penthouse? The locks are being changed as we speak.”
May you like
Ray took a step back, his hand flying to his chest as if he were having a heart attack. “You... you can't freeze my corporate accounts. I have payroll due tomorrow! I have personal debts!”
“Then I suggest you find a very good public defender, Ray,” I said, standing up and smoothing down my blazer. “Because the private lenders you owe $3.4 million to have just been notified that your collateral—the Vance Development assets—no longer exists. And unlike me, they don't use court orders to collect their debts.”
