Chapter 2 - The Mistress Runs
The moment the handcuffs snapped shut around Richard’s wrists, the illusion of his untouchable power evaporated into thin air. Chloe, the twenty-four-year-old executive assistant who had sauntered through my front door acting like the new mistress of the manor, suddenly realized she was standing in the middle of a federal crime scene.
The color drained from her tanned cheeks, leaving her looking young, terrified, and remarkably pathetic. She dropped the two luxury boutique shopping bags onto the bare floorboards. The tissue paper spilled out, revealing a designer leather handbag and a pair of diamond-studded sandals—items purchased with money stolen from working-class retirement funds while my son was dying on a respirator.
"I... I don't know anything about this!" Chloe stammered, backing away from Richard as if he had suddenly caught a contagious disease. She raised her hands toward Agent Miller, her voice trembling with panic. "I am just his assistant! We were just on a business trip! I swear I don't know anything about his finances!"
"Chloe, shut up!" Richard snapped, twisting his neck to glare at her as the marshals began to pat him down for weapons and secondary phones. "Don't say a single word to them!"
"No, Richard, you shut up!" she screamed back, tears of sheer self-preservation spilling over her mascara. "You told me you were divorced! You told me this house was yours and that your crazy ex-wife was finally moved out! I am not going to federal prison for you!"
I watched the miserable exchange without a flicker of emotion. It was fascinating to see how quickly their romantic, sun-drenched getaway dissolved into a toxic blame game the second real consequences entered the room.
I walked slowly over to the dropped shopping bags, using the toe of my black boot to push the designer purse away. Then, I lifted my gaze to Chloe. "You can leave the bags, Chloe. Everything bought with stolen funds over the last fourteen days is being seized as evidence by the federal government. That includes the jewelry he bought you, the flights he booked, and the resort suite he rented."
Chloe swallowed hard, looking from me to the stern faces of the state troopers blocking the doorway. "Can I... can I just leave? Please?"
"We will be in touch with you for a formal deposition, Miss Davis," Agent Miller stated coldly, not taking his eyes off Richard. "Do not attempt to leave the state of Massachusetts."
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As the marshals dragged a kicking, shouting Richard toward the door, he looked back at me one last time. "Elena! Where is Leo? Why isn't Leo here? What did you tell our son?!"
I didn't answer him. I just watched the heavy front door click shut, leaving the house completely silent once again.
