Chapter 16 - THE FEDERAL SUBPOENA
The next morning, harsh sunlight filtered through the dirty curtains of the roadside motel room.
A loud, aggressive pounding echoed against the metal door of room 114, startling both Mark and Elena awake.
Mark pulled on his wrinkled navy blue polo shirt, wiping the sleep from his eyes as he cautiously unlocked the door.
Two federal marshals stood in the doorway, holding official government documents with stern, unyielding expressions.
"Mark Sterling? You are hereby served with federal grand jury subpoenas for corporate conspiracy and embezzlement," the lead marshal stated.
"This is harassment! I haven't embezzled a single dime from Vance Global!" Mark protested loudly, stepping back.
"Your personal shell companies received over four million dollars in unauthorized developer kickbacks," the marshal replied coldly.
He shoved the papers directly into Mark's chest, turning his attention toward Elena sitting frozen on the sagging bed.
"Evelyn Sterling, you are also named as an accessory in the systematic transfer of hidden corporate funds," the marshal added.
May you like
Before either of them could utter another word, a pair of cold steel handcuffs was snapped tightly around Mark's wrists.
Elena shrieked in absolute terror as a second set of cuffs locked around her wrists, dragging them both toward the exit.
