Chapter 5 - FEDERAL AGENTS AT MY WEDDING
A red mark spread across Ethan’s cheek.
Olivia breathed hard.
“You ungrateful little fool.”
Martin closed the folder.
“Mrs. Sterling, I recommend you stop speaking.”
She laughed.
“You recommend?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because the preservation package was released nine minutes ago.”
Even I turned toward him.
I had instructed Martin to release the compliance file at midnight unless there was evidence of an active threat to records or witnesses.
“What changed?”
“Remote deletion attempts.”
My stomach tightened.
“Today?”
“Three hours ago.”
Olivia looked toward Ethan.
Too quickly.
Martin noticed.
So did I.
Then a woman stepped from the third sedan.
Dark suit.
Badge at her waist.
Two investigators followed.
“I’m Special Agent Naomi Cross.”
Olivia went pale.
The agent stopped several feet away.
“We are not here to arrest anyone at this time.”
Olivia exhaled.
Naomi continued.
“We are here pursuant to a federal preservation warrant and related investigative authority concerning suspected financial fraud and destruction of records.”
The relief vanished.
“You cannot enter my home.”
Naomi nodded toward another agent holding papers.
“We have a warrant covering specified locations and systems.”
Olivia looked around.
Her friends avoided her eyes.
Board members who had praised her during cocktails quietly moved farther away.
That seemed to hurt her almost more than the warrant.
Her entire power structure depended on people wanting proximity.
Now they were recalculating.
She pointed at me.
“She orchestrated this.”
Naomi looked at me briefly.
“This investigation predates tonight.”
I said:
“I delayed escalation.”
Olivia stared.
“What?”
I looked at Ethan.
“When our review found transfers under your authority, I asked that investigators distinguish negligence from knowledge before assuming intent.”
Ethan’s eyes filled.
“I argued you might have signed documents because you trusted your mother.”
Olivia whispered:
“Why would you protect him?”
I looked at the man I had almost married.
“Because I loved him.”
That was still true.
Love did not vanish simply because trust did.
Ethan looked away.
Then Naomi signaled.
Agents entered the estate.
Olivia tried to follow.
One stopped her.
“My personal belongings are inside.”
“We understand.”
“You cannot search my bedroom.”
“We will search only areas authorized by the warrant.”
Olivia turned desperately toward Ethan.
He said nothing.
Then toward me.
I said nothing either.
Five minutes later, an agent emerged carrying two sealed evidence bags.
Naomi listened as he whispered something.
Her expression changed.
She looked toward Olivia.
“Who is Leonard Pierce?”
Olivia froze.
“I don’t know anyone by that name.”
Naomi nodded slowly.
“That is interesting.”
“Why?”
“Because we recovered correspondence directing Leonard Pierce to transfer eleven million dollars from Sterling-controlled escrow accounts before Bennett’s review reached the board.”
Ethan stared at his mother.
I felt something cold settle in my stomach.
Then Naomi added:
“There is another message.”
She looked at me.
May you like
“It references you.”
And suddenly the wedding became personal all over again.
