Chapter 11 - The Law of the Corrupt
""Damian Vance,"" Julian Thorne announced, stepping forward with his hands comfortably tucked into the pockets of his dry, fresh designer overcoat. ""I’m afraid you’re under arrest for grand larceny, reckless endangerment, and the physical assault of your mother, Eleanor Vance.""
Clara stood up immediately, putting herself between Damian and the officers. ""He didn't assault her! Eleanor had men shoot at us! Look at my arm! Look at the bullet holes in his car outside!""
The lead officer looked uncomfortable, avoiding Damian’s predatory stare. ""Ma'am, we have a sworn affidavit from Mrs. Eleanor Vance, along with surveillance footage from the front hall showing Mr. Vance threatening staff and violently abducting this child.""
""Julian,"" Damian said, his voice terrifyingly quiet. He didn't stand up; he simply sat on the edge of the waiting room bench, looking up at his former lawyer. ""Did you edit the CCTV footage before handing it to the precinct?""
Julian smirked, leaning in slightly. ""I am the general counsel of Vance Enterprises, Damian. Every server, every backup hard drive, every private security log runs through my office. By morning, the board will convene an emergency session. You will be deemed psychologically unfit to retain CEO status following an unprovoked violent breakdown.""
""And Clara?"" Damian asked.
""Ms. Winters will be returned to the state correctional facility for parole violations related to the fifty-thousand-dollar theft Eleanor framed her for five years ago,"" Julian whispered, leaning close enough that only Damian and Clara could hear. ""And the bastard child... well, congenital heart patients in state foster care rarely survive the winter.""
Clara lunged at Julian with her bare fingernails, but Damian caught her waist, pulling her firmly back against his chest.
""Don't waste your energy on dead men, Clara,"" Damian said smoothly.
Julian laughed out loud. ""Dead? Damian, look around you. The board belongs to your mother. The police captain is in my pocket. You have no phone, no weapon, and in three minutes, these officers will handcuff you.""
Damian slowly stood up. He reached into his left pocket and pulled out a small, metallic flash drive with a blinking blue light—the memory drive he had snatched from Julian’s Maybach during the scuffle in the garage.
Julian’s laughter died instantly. His face turned the color of curdled milk.
""You left your dash-cam operational, Julian,"" Damian said, twirling the drive between his bloody fingers. ""Including the encrypted audio link connected to Mother’s private line. The one where she authorized the sniper to put a bullet through Daisy's skull.""
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Julian's hand twitched toward his pocket. ""Give that to me.""
""Officers,"" Damian turned to the policemen, his billionaire authority returning in full force. ""Call Federal Prosecutor Reynolds. Tell him Damian Vance is ready to turn state's evidence on the Vance Offshore Cartel.""
