Three days later, the morning sun beat down on the glass tower of Vance Financial Group in downtown Dallas. The lobby was filled with news reporters, camera operators, and anxious employees standing near the security turnstiles.
Inside the executive boardroom on the top floor, four senior partners sat at the long mahogany table, staring in shock at the financial reports spread out before them.
Senior Partner 1: The stock dropped sixty percent at the opening bell! We're facing total insolvency by the end of the day!
Senior Partner 2: Where is David?! Why isn't he answering his phone?!
The heavy boardroom doors pushed open, and Captain Rogers walked in, accompanied by two federal auditors carrying official seizure warrants.
Captain Rogers: Ladies and gentlemen, please step away from the computers and leave your company credentials on the table.
Senior Partner 1: Who are you? You have no authority in a private corporate office!
Federal Auditor: By order of the Federal District Court, all operations of Vance Financial Group are hereby suspended due to ongoing investigations into wire fraud and money laundering.
Senior Partner 2: Wire fraud?! David swore the Sterling Trust transfers were legitimate!
Captain Rogers: Mr. Vance lied to you, just as he lied to his family. The firm's assets are under federal receivership.
Meanwhile, inside the Dallas County Jail, David sat in a cramped visitor cell, wearing an orange jumpsuit. His hair was unwashed, and the bruise on his cheek from Arthur's slap had turned a deep, ugly purple.
On the other side of the glass partition sat his defense attorney, holding a thin manila folder.
David: When am I getting bail, Mark? I've been in here for three days!
Attorney Mark: The judge denied bail this morning, David. General Vance's legal team presented evidence that you were a flight risk with offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands.
David: Offshore accounts?! Those were for tax planning!
Attorney Mark: Well, the federal prosecutor views them as evidence of premeditated financial crime. And there's more bad news.
David: What more could there possibly be?!
Attorney Mark: Your mother signed a plea deal two hours ago.
David slammed his hand against the counter, his eyes wide with disbelief.
David: She did WHAT?!
Attorney Mark: She agreed to testify against you on the grand theft and deed fraud charges in exchange for a reduced sentence in a minimum-security facility.
David: My own mother sold me out?!
Attorney Mark: She said you forced her to hold the stolen assets in her company name. She turned over all your private text messages to the prosecution.
David collapsed back into his chair, staring at his reflection in the glass, his hands trembling violently as he realized he had been completely betrayed by the person he trusted most.