Part 9
The silence in the room became absolute.
The blinking red light on the recorder seemed to pulse like a heartbeat.
Felicia made a sudden, desperate lunge across the desk.
Her manicured nails clawed at the air, reaching for the device.
But Derek moved faster.
He stepped between them, his large frame blocking her completely.
"Don't touch her," he growled.
His voice was no longer sad.
It was dangerous.
Felicia stumbled back, her heel catching on the rug.
She looked at Cassandra, panic finally breaking through her cold exterior.
"Cassandra, do something!" she screamed.
Cassandra was staring at the recorder.
Her face had gone from pale to a dangerous, mottled red.
"An audio recording without mutual consent is inadmissible in court in this state, Eleanor," Cassandra said.
Her voice was tight, trying desperately to sound confident.
"You know nothing about the law."
"Actually," I replied, leaning back in my chair.
"I know a great deal about the law."
"My late husband was a federal prosecutor for twenty-five years."
"And he taught me that while one-party consent varies by state for criminal trials..."
"...extortion and federal bank fraud change the rules completely."
"Furthermore, this recording isn't just for a courtroom."
I picked up my phone from the desk.
"I'm currently streaming this audio to a private cloud server."
"And I have a copy being sent directly to the compliance officer at the bank you just mentioned."
"The bank that handles that one hundred and twenty thousand dollar line of credit."
I smiled at her. It was the same polite, hospitable smile I had given her guests all evening.
"I don't think that loan is going to clear tomorrow morning, Cassandra."
"In fact, I think the fraud division is already looking at the application."
Cassandra took a slow step backward toward the door.
She reached behind her, her hand searching for the brass doorknob.
"We're leaving," she said shortly.
"Felicia, grab your things."
"You can't leave," Derek said, standing firm in front of the door.
"Derek, step aside," I said softly.
He looked at me, confused. "Mom, they're going to get away."
"No, they aren't," I said.
"Let them go outside."
Cassandra unlocked the door with a trembling hand.
She pulled it open.
The party in the living room had gone completely dead.
The music had stopped.
The guests were gone.
Instead, standing in my foyer, were three men in dark suits.
And two uniformed police officers.
Richard Vance was standing near the front door, holding his coat.
He looked back at the study.
"I told you I was going to make a few phone calls, Cassandra," Vance said coldly.
"I started with the chief of police."
"He's an old friend of mine."
The lead detective walked forward, pulling a pair of handcuffs from his belt.
"Cassandra Brooks? Felicia Caldwell?"
"You're both under arrest for identity theft, grand larceny, and attempted bank fraud."
Felicia let out a loud, pathetic sob.
She fell to her knees on the hardwood floor, covering her face.
"Derek! Please! Help me! It was all Cassandra! She made me do it!"
Derek didn't look down at her.
He turned his back completely, looking out the dark window at the falling snow.
Cassandra didn't scream.
She just stared at me as the officer pulled her hands behind her back.
The metal handcuffs clicked loudly in the quiet house.
"This isn't over, Eleanor," she whispered.
"My lawyers will have me out by midnight."
"Perhaps," I said, walking out of the study to stand above her.
"But your bank accounts are already frozen."
"Your shell company is exposed."
"And you have nowhere left to hide."
As the officers led them out into the cold night, the red and blue lights flashed against the snow on my windows.
May you like
The house was finally empty.
But the damage was already done.
