Chapter 7 - The Arrest
Friday morning brought the kind of justice that usually only exists in movies.
Mark had attempted to go to his office at Sterling & Hayes to beg his partners to let him access an offshore account to hire a criminal defense attorney. He didn't make it past the lobby.
As Eleanor later detailed to us, two suited agents from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), accompanied by local police, were waiting for him by the elevators. Because Mark had utilized his firm's banking software to illegally bypass the dual-signature requirement on the 529 plan, he had escalated a domestic dispute into federal financial crimes.
He was handcuffed in front of his colleagues, his receptionists, and several high-net-worth clients.
The image of Mark, the man who cared more about his appearance than his own son, being marched out of a glass-walled high-rise in handcuffs made the evening news. The local anchors ran it right alongside the viral clip of Julian’s graduation speech. The narrative was complete: The arrogant father exposed by his genius son.
That night, my phone rang. It was an unknown number, but I had a feeling. I answered it and put it on speaker.
"Elena?" Tiffany’s voice was small, shaking, and stripped of all its usual arrogance.
"Speak quickly," I said.
"They took the cars," she sobbed. "The bank repossessed the house. Mark is in county jail waiting for a bail hearing, but the accounts are frozen so I can't post it. I have nowhere to go."
"I hear there's plenty of room in the overflow section," Julian said dryly from across the kitchen table.
Tiffany gasped, realizing Julian was listening. "Julian, please. I didn't know about the money! I swear! I'll testify against him. I have emails! I have proof that he forged your mother's signature. I'll give it all to your lawyer if you just drop the civil suit against me so I can keep my jewelry and my designer bags. It’s all I have left!"
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I leaned into the microphone. "You took my seat, Tiffany. You took my son's money. You tried to take my dignity. Keep your bags. You're going to need them to pack your things."
I hung up and blocked the number.
