Chapter 51 - The Shadow Accountant
Julian Vance lived in a high-security gated community in the affluent northern suburbs. He was a coward who hid behind complex algorithms, legal loopholes, and the protection of dangerous men.
At 4:00 AM, Arthur and I bypassed the front gate by using a security code Arthur had procured through his less-than-legal contacts.
We knocked on Vance’s heavy oak door. When he didn't answer, Arthur bypassed the electronic lock with a master keycard. We walked into his pristine, sterile living room.
Vance came stumbling out of the master bedroom, wearing silk pajamas, his face turning pale with absolute terror as he saw us standing in his foyer.
"Evelyn Carter," Vance stammered, backing against the wall. "You... you can't be here. This is breaking and entering!"
"Call the police, Julian," I said, taking a slow step toward him, dropping the heavy cobblestone from the diner onto his glass coffee table. The glass cracked with a sharp, violent snap. "Let’s have a chat with the authorities about the Holloway Family Trust. Let’s talk about how Victor is using a legally dead shell company to fund extortion and property damage."
Vance swallowed hard, his eyes darting to the broken glass. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Victor threatened my granddaughter," I said, closing the distance until I was inches from his face. "He smashed my diner. I am not the scared housewife you used to ignore at those gala dinners, Julian. I am the woman who put your former boss in a federal cage. You have ten seconds to hand over the encryption keys to Victor’s offshore holding accounts, or I will hand the FBI the metadata showing you laundered the money he used to buy Elm Street."
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Vance’s knees buckled. He knew my reputation. He knew I didn't bluff.
"The safe," Vance whispered, pointing a shaking finger toward the study. "The master ledger is on a flash drive in the safe."
