Marcus: Mrs. Vance? Or should I say Clara?
Clara: You can call me Clara, Mr. Vance's former business partner.
Marcus Reed sat behind his mahogany desk in downtown Chicago, staring at Clara as if he had just seen a ghost walk through his office door.
Marcus: I attended your memorial service five years ago. Julian wept like a grieving widow in front of every reporter in the city.
Clara: He was crying because he couldn't wait to spend my father's money.
Marcus: Do you have proof that he tampered with your vehicle?
Clara: I have something even better, Marcus. I have the mechanic's written confession.
Clara pulled a thick manila folder from her leather bag, placing it firmly onto the glass table.
Marcus: The mechanic who inspected your car after the crash?
Clara: Victoria paid him fifty thousand dollars to sign a report saying the brake line snapped due to rust.
Marcus: How did you get him to confess?
Clara: He felt guilty when he saw me working at a local diner three months ago. He gave me a signed affidavit and a copy of the wire transfer from Victoria's account.
Marcus opened the folder, skimming through the bank statements and notarized documents with growing astonishment.
Marcus: This is extraordinary. If this wire transfer is legitimate, Victoria committed federal bank fraud and obstruction of justice.
Clara: What about Julian?
Marcus: Julian co-signed the inheritance distribution forms six weeks after your reported death. That makes him an accomplice to fraud and attempted murder.
Clara: Can we freeze their accounts before they try to transfer the money offshore?
Marcus: After what happened at the mansion gala tonight, Julian is probably already trying to move his liquid assets.
Clara: That's why I came straight to your office tonight.
Marcus: I can file an emergency injunction with Judge Miller at seven in the morning.
Clara: Will Judge Miller sign it?
Marcus: Judge Miller was your father's closest friend for thirty years, Clara. When he sees you standing alive in his courtroom with this child, he will lock down every bank account in the state.
Leo: Mommy, I'm sleepy.
Clara: Lay your head on my lap, sweetie. We're almost done.
Marcus: Clara, you realize what will happen once we file these papers?
Clara: Julian and Victoria will lose their company, their mansion, and their freedom.
Marcus: They will fight back with everything they have. Julian has three expensive criminal defense attorneys on retainer.
Clara: Let them bring ten attorneys. They can't erase the truth, and they can't erase my son.
Marcus smiled, closing the folder and shaking Clara's hand with deep respect.
Marcus: Get some sleep tonight, Clara. Tomorrow morning, we reclaim your life.