Chapter 8 - The Mark Sterling Gambit
Desperation makes people dangerous, but it also makes them stupid.
Mark, sitting in a cheap diner with his last fifty dollars, realized that if he went down, he was going to face a decade in federal prison. Sarah was already sinking, but Mark decided he needed a lifeline. He needed immunity.
He found a payphone—not trusting his compromised cell—and dialed the direct line to the District Attorney's office.
"I have information on the Thorne & Vance embezzlement case," Mark told the receptionist, his voice low and frantic. "I want full immunity in exchange for turning state's evidence against Sarah and Arthur Vance."
Within two hours, Mark was sitting in an interrogation room with two federal prosecutors.
"I can give you the exact IP addresses Sarah used to access the mainframe," Mark offered, sweating through his cheap shirt. "I can prove she forged Julian's signature on the initial wire transfers. But I need it in writing. Total immunity."
The lead prosecutor, a sharp-eyed woman named Castellanos, exchanged a look with her partner. She opened a thick binder on the table.
"Mr. Sterling, we don't need the IP addresses. Evelyn Thorne already provided them. We don't need the forged signatures. Mrs. Thorne provided handwriting analysis reports," Castellanos said, her voice dripping with pity. "In fact, we don't need you at all. We have a mountain of forensic evidence."
Mark's heart plummeted. "Then... what do you want from me?"
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"We want a guilty plea," Castellanos replied smoothly. "You are not the mastermind, Mr. Sterling. You are a pawn. But pawns still go to the board. We are charging you with receiving stolen property, conspiracy to commit corporate espionage, and accessory to wire fraud."
Mark buried his face in his hands, realizing that Evelyn Thorne hadn't just built a case against Sarah; she had built an inescapable steel trap around every single person involved.
