Chapter 15 - The Cold Reality of Law
The silence in Suite 1204 lasted for an eternity.
Julian's trembling fingers reached down and picked up the dossier Marcus had prepared.
His eyes scanned the corporate filings from Zurich and the internal emails intercepted by our forensic team.
On page seven was an email from Christopher Vance to his Swiss attorney:
"Once the receivership is granted in Delaware, transfer the Vance debt to Apex Bermuda."
"Let Julian Vance take the criminal liability for the forged seal."
"He is financially illiterate and has no standing to sue."
The color drained entirely from Julian's face.
The arrogant, silk-robed golden child looked suddenly frail, like a balloon that had lost all its air.
"He... he told me we were partners," Julian whispered, collapsing back onto the sofa.
"He told me we were going to take the company back together."
"You don't have partners, Julian," I said.
"You only have enablers."
"And now you are facing twenty years in federal prison for bank fraud and interstate wire fraud."
Julian looked up at me, tears welling in his red eyes.
For the first time in his life, he didn't have our mother behind him to wipe his nose.
He didn't have our father to write a check to smooth things over.
He was entirely alone in a five-thousand-dollar-a-night hotel room with the legal hammer of the United States government hanging over his head.
"Claire... please," he choked out, his voice cracking into a desperate whine.
"You're my sister."
"You can pay the twenty-five million."
"It's nothing to you!"
"Just pay Christopher and let this go!"
"I won't ever ask you for another cent, I swear to God!"
I looked at him with eyes carved from granite.
"I will not pay Christopher Vance twenty-five cents of my money."
"And I will not protect you from the consequences of your choices."
"Then what do you want from me?" he cried, clutching his knees.
"Why did you come here?"
"You are going to sign a full, sworn confession," I said, signaling Marcus to step inside the suite with a notary public.
"You are going to detail every communication with Christopher Vance."
"You are going to confess under penalty of perjury that you stole the corporate seal from our grandmother's vault."
"And you are going to testify in Delaware on Thursday morning."
Julian shook his head frantically.
"If I sign that, Christopher will destroy me!"
"He has lawyers in five countries!"
"If you sign it, Marcus will arrange a plea deal with the Southern District of New York," I countered.
"You will likely serve eighteen months in a minimum-security facility instead of twenty years in a federal penitentiary."
"And if you refuse to sign?"
I took my coat from the back of the chair and pulled on my leather gloves.
"If you refuse to sign, I walk out this door."
"The FBI agents waiting in the lobby will come up the elevator."
"And I will personally fund the federal prosecution against you until you die in a cell."
Julian looked at the document Marcus placed on the table.
The pen was heavy, black lacquer, bearing the insignia of Vance Holdings.
His hand shook so violently that he could barely grip the barrel.
"Mom will never forgive you for this, Claire," he whimpered.
May you like
"She already hasn't," I replied.
"Now sign."
