Chapter 8 - The Aunt's Downfall
The collateral damage of Arthur’s empire collapsing was swift and merciless.
We were eating lunch at a café downtown when my phone buzzed. It was a video link from Sarah.
“You might want to see this,” Sarah’s text read.
I opened the video. It was local news footage of Elise’s aunt, Helen. She was being escorted out of her massive luxury real estate firm in handcuffs by two IRS agents. Her designer clothes were rumpled, and she was trying to hide her face behind a leather handbag as reporters shoved microphones in her direction.
“Helen Vance, prominent real estate developer, was indicted this morning on twenty-seven counts of tax evasion and money laundering, directly tied to the criminal enterprise of her brother, Arthur Vance…” the news anchor narrated.
Elise watched the video over my shoulder.
“She called me last night,” Elise said quietly, taking a sip of her coffee. “From a burner phone. She begged me to lend her money for a defense attorney. She said we were family.”
I looked at my wife. “What did you say?”
“I told her the family died the day she looked at the bruises on my arms and told me to wear long sleeves.”
I smiled, a deep surge of pride swelling in my chest. The timid, terrified bride I had carried across the threshold on our wedding night was gone. In her place was a warrior who had finally reclaimed her voice.
“So,” I said, closing the video and putting my phone away. “What’s next for us?”
May you like
Elise looked out the window at the bustling city. “I think I want to start a foundation. For women who are trapped. For people who are told no one will believe them. I have the files, I know how the financial abuse works. I want to help them.”
“I think that’s a brilliant idea,” I agreed. “And I happen to know a very good forensic accountant who works for free.”
