Chapter 5 - The Federal RaidWithin minutes, the heavy oak doors of the Costa estate were pounded open by federal marshals in tactical vests, led by Special Agent David Vance—no relation to Marcus, but equally ruthless and determined to put me behind bars.
Marcus Vance strode in right behind the federal agents, looking smug, wearing an expensive tailored suit and carrying a leather briefcase.
“Vincent Costa,” Agent Vance announced loudly, flashing a federal badge. “You’re under arrest for racketeering, money laundering, and international smuggling. Clear the rooms! Search every desk, every floorboard, every safe!”
Marcus stepped forward, a patronizing smile curling his lips. “It’s over, Vincent. You should have listened to me when I warned you about modern compliance. Pack your things.”
I sat calmly behind my desk, leaning back in my leather chair, while Khloe stood quietly off to the side, holding a clipboard and wearing her severe gray office skirt and severe hair clip—looking once again like the quintessential, unassuming secretary.
“Agent Vance,” I said smoothly, ignoring Marcus entirely. “You’re welcome to search the premises. But I must warn you, you’ll find nothing illegal here. Our accounts are fully audited.”
“We’ll see about that,” Vance sneered, motioning to his agents. “Tear this office apart!”
For the next two hours, federal agents ransacked the study. They pulled books off shelves, tapped against the walls, and forced open filing cabinets. Marcus stood by the door, directing them toward the exact locations he had leaked from the internal blueprints.
“Check beneath the desk!” Marcus urged eagerly. “There’s a floor safe! That’s where he keeps the real ledgers!”
Agent Vance dropped to his knees, hauled back the Persian rug, and spun the dial on the floor safe. He yanked the heavy steel door open and reached inside.
His hand came out empty.
Marcus frowned, stepping closer. “What? That’s impossible! The safe should be full of offshore routing numbers!”
Agent Vance pulled out a single, neatly folded document and unfolded it. His face immediately went pale.
“Marcus Vance,” Agent Vance said slowly, standing up and turning around to face the corporate lawyer. “What is the meaning of this?”
Marcus blinked in confusion. “What? What does it say?”
“It’s an internal corporate audit report,” Agent Vance read aloud, his voice hardening with every syllable. “Certified and notarized by Costa Logistics’ newly appointed Chief Financial Officer, detailing systematic embezzlement of corporate funds, tax evasion, and illegal wire fraud committed by—Marcus Vance.”
Marcus staggered backward as if he had been struck in the chest. “No! That’s a forgery! That’s not what I gave you!”
“It’s very real, Marcus,” I said calmly, standing up from my desk. “You see, while you were busy selling out your employer to save your own skin, my CFO noticed that the financial numbers didn't add up. She traced every single illegal wire transfer straight to your offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands. In fact, she filed those exact fraud charges with the federal prosecutor’s office three hours before you arrived here with your warrant.”
Agent Vance looked between Marcus and the documents in his hand, his professional instincts instantly recognizing a trap. He snapped his head toward the agents. “Take Marcus Vance into custody. Read him his rights.”
“You’re making a mistake!” Marcus screamed as two federal marshals grabbed his arms, snapping steel handcuffs around his wrists and dragging him out of the study as he cursed my name. “Vincent is the criminal! He’s the one running the syndicate!”
“Prove it,” I replied coolly as the heavy doors closed behind him.
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Agent Vance stared at me for a long, tense moment, realizing he had been thoroughly outmaneuvered by a paper trail that pointed entirely in the wrong direction. Without the primary evidence to link me directly to the syndicate's illicit operations, the federal case collapsed on the spot.
With a frustrated sigh, Agent Vance turned on his heel and ordered his remaining agents to clear out of the estate.
