Chapter 3 - The Dinner That Turned Into a Raid
“Karen, this is completely inappropriate!” Andrew hissed under his breath, standing up and pulling his tailored navy cuffs over his wrists. “Whatever accounting discrepancies exist can be handled during normal business hours in my office tomorrow morning!”
“There will be no office tomorrow morning, Andrew,” Karen said.
She pulled a red-stamped legal notice from the portfolio and laid it flat over the wine stain on the table.
“As of 6:30 p.m. today, by unanimous decree of the Executive Board of Directors, your administrative access has been revoked, your corporate security clearance is suspended, and your employment as Vice President of Operations is terminated for gross financial misconduct.”
Andrew’s breath hitched in his throat. He looked around the dining room. Several corporate executives from competing financial firms at neighboring tables were watching the entire scene unfold.
“You’re firing me? On what grounds?!” Andrew stammered, sweat breaking out across his forehead.
The second investigator stepped forward, holding an unsealed federal subpoena from the Cook County State’s Attorney Financial Crimes Division.
“On the grounds of Interstate Corporate Embezzlement, Falsification of Commercial Books, and Commercial Bribery,” the investigator stated.
Vanessa grabbed her coat and scrambled out of her seat. “I’m leaving! You have no right to detain me in a public restaurant!”
“You can leave, Mrs. Mercer,” a deep, resonant voice spoke from behind them.
Daniel Mercer and I walked across the parquet floor, stopping three feet from the table.
When Vanessa saw her husband standing beside me, her high heels clipped awkwardly against the floor, and she nearly fell into the dessert cart.
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“D... Daniel...?” Vanessa whispered in sheer terror.
And Andrew’s eyes snapped to mine.
