Chapter 6 - The Trap Springs
The FBI took the bait, and my honeypot worked flawlessly.
Within forty-eight hours, the FBI traced the remote intrusion right back to a server farm in Miami. The feds didn't just have Derek's forged appraisals anymore; they had the entire Volkov money-laundering network mapped out.
Derek and Elena were brought into federal holding. They were no longer just facing local assault charges; they were facing federal racketeering, wire fraud, and conspiracy.
I sat in the observation room with Detective Russo as the FBI interrogated Derek. He was completely broken. He was sweating through his prison jumpsuit, begging for a plea deal.
"I'll tell you everything!" Derek cried to the federal agents. "But you have to give me witness protection! The Volkovs will kill me!"
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"You have nothing we need," the lead agent said coldly. "Your sister-in-law already gave us everything. Your wife, however, is being much more cooperative. She says the entire fraud was your idea, and you forced her to play along."
Derek stared at the two-way mirror, a look of absolute betrayal washing over his face. The thieves were finally turning on each other.
