Chapter 4 - The House of Vance Unravels
While Arthur was being escorted down the service elevators of Sterling Tower, the repercussions of Elena’s corporate takeover tore through the Vance family compound in Lake Forest like a hurricane.
Julianna Vance sat in her father’s grand study, weeping hysterically while her father, Senator Richard Vance, paced behind his desk, slamming his phone against the cradle every two minutes.
"You told me Arthur controlled eighty percent of the shipping conglomerate!" Richard Vance roared, his aristocratic face mottled with rage. "I guaranteed twenty million dollars in municipal bonds based on his European port expansion! The banks just called our line of credit due! The State Ethics Committee opened an investigation into my campaign accounts forty minutes ago!"
"Father, I didn't know!" Julianna sobbed, clutching her designer handkerchief. "Arthur swore his wife was just a penniless charity case! He told me the divorce would be finalized in private and we would merge our foundations!"
The heavy oak doors of the study burst open without a knock.
Four special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, accompanied by Detective Raymond Vance of the Chicago Police Department, strode into the room with search warrants in hand.
"Senator Richard Vance, Miss Julianna Vance," the lead agent announced, flashing his gold credentials. "We have an execution warrant issued by the Northern District of Illinois for the seizure of all electronic devices, foreign transaction ledgers, and offshore trust documents."
Julianna jumped to her feet, backing toward the French doors. "You can't do this! My father is a United States Senator!"
"Your father was formally censured by the Senate Ethics Committee an hour ago, Miss Vance," the agent replied coldly. "And under the evidence provided by the Lin Maritime Trust, you are named as a primary co-conspirator in an interstate money-laundering and corporate embezzlement scheme exceeding fifty million dollars."
Two female agents stepped forward, grabbing Julianna’s wrists and securing them in heavy steel handcuffs.
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"Arthur!" Julianna screamed, thrashing against their grip. "Arthur did this! He forced me to sign those accounts!"
"Tell it to the federal grand jury, Miss Vance," Detective Vance said, stepping aside as the agents led the weeping socialite out through the grand marble foyer into a waiting convoy of unmarked federal cruisers.
