Chapter 8 - The Arrest of Agnes Vance
"No, Agnes," Julian Hayes announced, stepping down the stairs with a squad of county detectives. "Leo is not the man of this house. Leo is officially bankrupt."
Julian handed Leo an envelope containing formal corporate notices:
Notice of Immediate Termination: Leo Vance removed as Chief Executive Officer of Vance Dynamics for gross breach of corporate bylaws and conversion of company assets.
Revocation of Proprietary Licensing: All Sterling patents, logistics software, and client networks leased to Vance Dynamics revoked effective midnight.
Foreclosure on Personal Guaranty: Full acceleration of the $5 million initial seed loan, due payable within forty-eight hours.
Leo fell to his knees on the wet grass, clutching the papers as the reality of his total ruin crashed down upon him.
"Elena... please..." Leo wept, looking up at me with desperate, pleading eyes. "I built that company with you! We’re partners! We can fix this! I’ll send Mom and Chloe away! I’ll never let them near you again!"
"You had four years to protect me from them, Leo," I replied softly. "You chose their comfort over my life every single day. Now you can share their harvest."
Senior Detective Marcus Stone stepped forward, pulling heavy steel handcuffs from his tactical belt.
"Agnes Vance," Detective Stone declared loudly. "Under County Warrant 704, you are under arrest for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Depraved Indifference Endangering Human Life, and Reckless Endangerment."
Agnes shrieked as two female deputies pinned her arms behind her back, snapping the cold iron cuffs shut around her wrists.
"Chloe Vance," the secondary detective announced, clicking cuffs around the sister’s wrists. "You are under arrest for Grand Larceny and Felony Identity Fraud."
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As the squad cars pulled away with their sirens blaring, hauling the screaming, sobbing women down Meadowbrook Lane, Leo remained on the grass, his head buried in his hands, weeping in bitter, irreversible defeat.
I turned around, walked back into my home, and let Alexander close the heavy oak doors behind us.
