Chapter 4 - THE SEALED WARRANT
By seven o'clock that evening, rain began to fall over the National Mall in Washington D.C., streaking the windows of the Department of Justice building. Inside a high-security conference room, senior officials sat around a long glass table reviewing evidence files.
A large digital screen displayed high-resolution photos of the Vance mansion, highlighting the exact trajectory of Serena's fall from the balcony. Financial flowcharts mapped out hundreds of millions of dollars moving through offshore accounts tied to defense contracts.
"Serena Vance spent six months feeding us internal documents from her late father's corporate vault," Caleb explained to the Deputy Attorney General, pointing a laser marker at the screen. "Julian and his mother were siphoning funds meant for military infrastructure into personal Swiss accounts."
"Did Julian know she was cooperating with the FBI before he pushed her?" the Deputy Attorney General asked, leaning forward with his hands clasped.
"He suspected she found the secondary ledger," Caleb answered firmly. "When she threatened to deliver the hard drive to the SEC yesterday, he decided to eliminate her and frame it as an accident."
Meanwhile, down in the basement holding cell of the federal courthouse, Julian sat on a steel bench, his burgundy suit wrinkled and ruined. He pounded his fists against the heavy door, shouting at the guard stationed outside.
"I need my phone call!" Julian demanded, his voice echoing off the concrete walls. "Call Senator Vance right now! Tell him his nephew is being held illegally!"
The guard did not move, staring straight ahead as the heavy iron door unlocked with a loud electronic chime. A senior federal prosecutor stepped inside, carrying a blue folder stamped with the seal of the United States.
"Save your breath, Mr. Vance," the prosecutor said dryly, placing the folder on the metal table. "Senator Vance was placed under federal indictment one hour ago for bribery and obstruction of justice."
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Julian dropped his hands, his breath catching in his throat as the reality of his isolation sank into his chest like lead. "You... you can't touch my family," he stuttered.
"Your family just lost their federal security clearance," the prosecutor replied. "And tomorrow morning, you are being arraigned for attempted pre-meditated murder."
