Chapter 5 - The Paper Trail Closes
“You didn't think I spent the last three months playing golf, did you, Sienna?” I asked softly, stopping two feet away from the coffee table.
I flipped open the first folder. Neatly organized behind clear plastic sleeves were certified bank statements, wire transfer receipts bearing Andre’s corporate authorization code, and notarized affidavits from the compliance department’s forensic accountants.
“Reid,” Sienna breathed, finally finding her voice, taking a hesitant step forward with her hands raised in a pathetic, pleading gesture. “Reid, please. Let’s not do this here. Let’s go home. We can talk about this like adults—just you and me. Whatever you think you saw, whatever these papers are, we can fix it.”
“Fix it?” I let out a dry, humorless chuckle that made Andre flinch. “Sienna, you didn't leave anything to fix. You liquidated our home equity line of credit, cleaned out our joint savings account to pay off Andre’s private debts, and used my personal corporate contacts to secure the board votes for your promotion while promising Andre exclusive distribution rights for the entire mid-Atlantic region.”
I looked straight into her terrified eyes.
“That’s not a marriage problem, Sienna. That’s a federal wire fraud problem.”
Andre surged forward, his hand shooting out to grab my lapel. “That’s enough! You delusional bastard—give me those files right now or I swear to God I’ll—!”
His fingers never reached my jacket.
The heavy suite door behind him clicked open with a sharp, metallic snap.
Step into the room walked David Vance, holding a sleek black leather portfolio, flanked by two uniformed Pittsburgh police officers and a man wearing the crisp, dark suit of the hotel’s general manager.
Andre froze mid-motion, his hand hovering inches from my chest. He slowly turned his head around, his mouth slightly open.
“Mr. Abbott,” David Vance said, his voice as dry and flat as a stack of parchment paper, opening his portfolio and sliding a single sheet of paper across the mahogany table. “My name is David Vance. I represent the internal compliance and legal audit committee of the parent corporation. We’ve been reviewing the regional operational accounts since approximately 4:15 PM today.”
David adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose and looked at the two uniformed officers behind him.
“Officers, the individual in question is Andre Abbott. The documents detailing the unauthorized transfer of corporate funds and the falsification of executive audit logs are contained within these folders. Mr. Reid Abbott has formally surrendered them as evidence on behalf of the primary stakeholder.”
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The taller of the two police officers stepped forward, his hand resting casually on the black holster at his hip.
“Mr. Abbott,” the officer said, looking directly at Andre. “Step away from the table, put your hands behind your back, and turn around against the wall.”
