Chapter 4 - The Legal FortressBy Monday morning, the news of Daniel’s arrest had hit the local papers. Prominent Local Consultant Arrested in High-End Domestic Violence Case. His reputation, the only thing he valued more than his mother's approval, was ruined.
I sat in Sarah's downtown office, the floor-to-ceiling windows showing the gray, rainy Seattle skyline. My arm throbbed, but my mind was sharper than it had been in years.
"We've frozen all joint accounts, Julia," Sarah said, sliding a fresh cup of coffee toward my left hand. "Daniel's lawyer is already begging for a plea deal. They want the domestic violence charge reduced to a misdemeanor in exchange for a quick divorce settlement."
"No deals, Sarah," I said, taking a slow sip. "He broke my arm. He threatened my life. I want him to face the full extent of the law."
"If we go to trial, they will try to paint you as unstable," Sarah warned. "They’ll use the fact that you didn't report it immediately against you."
"Let them try," I smiled, opening my laptop. "They don't know about the forensic audit."
For six months, I had been quietly tracking Daniel’s business transactions. I had uncovered a massive, systematic network of corporate embezzlement within his consulting firm. He wasn't just stealing from me; he was siphoning funds from his high-profile clients to keep his sister's business afloat and pay off his own bad investments.
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"This is grand larceny, Julia," Sarah gasped, her eyes scanning the spreadsheets on my screen. "If we hand this over to the federal prosecutors, Daniel won't just be looking at a few months in county jail. He’s looking at federal prison."
"Then let's make the call," I said, leaning back. "It's time to show the Vance family what real power looks like."
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