Chapter 15 - The Criminal Charges
Before Mr. Henderson could even attempt to formulate a response to the forensic audit, the conference room door opened, and Marcus’s paralegal stepped inside, accompanied by two men in plain grey suits wearing badges clipped to their belts. They were detectives from the city’s White-Collar Crime and Domestic Violence units.
“Excuse the interruption, counselors,” the lead detective said, stepping into the room and fixing his eyes directly on Julian. “We’re looking for Julian Vance.”
Julian jumped to his feet, his chair scraping violently against the floor. “What is this? This is a private legal deposition! You can’t be in here!”
Mr. Henderson immediately stood up, raising his hands to placate the officers. “Detectives, I am representing Mr. Vance in a civil divorce proceeding. Is he under formal investigation?”
“He’s past the investigation stage, counselor,” the second detective replied, pulling a folded warrant from his jacket pocket. “A Grand Jury indicted your client this morning on two counts of felony grand larceny, one count of corporate identity theft regarding the Delaware shell company, and one count of domestic battery against a vulnerable adult.”
Julian collapsed back into his chair as if his skeleton had evaporated. “Felony? No... no, Marcus, tell them! Tell them it was just an internal company dispute! I agreed to repay the real estate firm! I signed the restitution paperwork yesterday!”
“You signed an agreement to repay funds you don't possess, Julian,” Marcus clarified coldly, closing his evidence binder. “And corporate restitution agreements do not indemnify you against criminal grand larceny charges pursued by the District Attorney’s office. You stole seventy-two thousand dollars across state lines using fraudulent wire transfers. That’s a federal banking violation.”
The detectives stepped around the mahogany table, grabbing Julian by both arms and pulling him forcibly to his feet. As the heavy steel handcuffs were clicked over his wrists right there in front of the court reporter, Julian broke down completely. He began weeping openly, sobbing like a terrified child as he looked across the table at me.
“Nora, please! Don't let them send me to prison! I’m sorry! I’m so sorry about the kitchen! I’m sorry about Chloe! Just give them the house money to pay off the charges! Save me, Nora!”
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I sat perfectly still, my hands folded neatly on the table, watching him weep without a single flicker of emotion.
“You told me that a wife who doesn't serve her husband has no purpose, Julian,” I said, my voice quiet, icy, and absolute. “My purpose now is ensuring you serve your full term. Detectives, please remove the prisoner from my deposition.”
