Chapter 10 - The Chessboard Widens
The office went dead silent as Marcus’s words settled over the room like a physical weight.
David flipped open his legal tablet, already jotting down notes. "Richard Vance? The former head of the county infrastructure commission? If he's tied into this, we're not just looking at a divorce proceeding or local fraud. We're looking at a multi-generational corruption ring."
"Precisely," Marcus said, adjusting his coat buttons. "My family has lived off stolen prestige and manipulated land grants for decades. Thaddius was just the idiot stupid enough to get caught because he married a woman who actually built her own empire instead of stealing it."
I looked up at Marcus, studying his face. "Why are you giving this to me? You're a Vance."
Marcus offered a thin, bitter smile. "Let's just say I've spent my whole life watching them look down on people who actually work for a living. I prefer the winning side, Sara. And right now, that's you."
He turned toward the door, pausing just at the threshold.
"By the way," Marcus added over his shoulder, "Thaddius is packing his bags right now. The local authorities gave him two hours to vacate the estate before they execute the final seizure warrant. You might want to be there when it happens."
May you like
I stood up slowly from my desk, pulling my coat from the back of my chair.
"David," I said, looking at my attorney. "File the motion for the expanded corporate and municipal subpoena. And call the security team—we're going home."
