Chapter 6 - The Shadow Mogul
Four hours later.
I sat in an interrogation room at the LAPD Central Precinct, the harsh fluorescent lights buzzing overhead.
My attorney, Arthur Pendelton—the CFO and legal advisor who had served my firm for years—sat beside me. He was a silver-haired man in a bespoke three-piece suit, his expression calm and composed.
"Daniel, you need to understand the gravity of your situation," Arthur said, sliding a document across the metal table. "The federal authorities have formally intercepted the evidence from the house. The indictment bearing your name is valid."
"It's forged, Arthur," I said, leaning forward. "And you know it. Victoria admitted on camera that you helped her family divert funds through my company."
Arthur didn't flinch. He didn't even blink. He simply reached into his pocket, pulled out a pair of reading glasses, and put them on.
"What Victoria said on a residential security tape is legally uncorroborated hearsay," Arthur said smoothly. "The paper trail, however, is ironclad. Your digital signature appears on forty-two offshore accounts. As your legal counsel, my advice is simple: accept the plea deal."
I stared at him, realization crashing down upon me like a tidal wave.
"You're not here to defend me," I whispered. "You're here to make sure I plead guilty so the Sterling family remains untouched."
Arthur offered a small, sad smile. "I've known Richard Sterling for thirty years, Daniel. He is a man of immense power. When he wants something built, it gets built. When he wants someone to take the blame, someone takes the blame. You were a very talented engineer, Daniel. But you were never a player in this game."
The door to the interrogation room clicked open.
A tall, elderly man walked in, accompanied by two federal agents in dark suits. He wore an immaculate charcoal suit, carried a silver-topped walking cane, and possessed an aura of absolute authority.
Richard Sterling. Victoria’s father.
Arthur immediately stood up and bowed his head respectfully. "Mr. Sterling."
Richard ignored Arthur entirely, walking over to the table and resting both hands on his cane, leaning down to meet my eyes.
"You have caused my daughter a great deal of embarrassment today, Daniel," Richard said, his voice deep and resonant, like gravel sliding down a chute.
"Your daughter beat my employee and framed me for financial fraud," I replied, staring back into his cold grey eyes.
"Minor details," Richard dismissed carelessly. "Victoria was sloppy. She allowed emotion to dictate her actions, and she allowed herself to be recorded. A minor setback."
He sat down in the chair opposite me.
"Here is what is going to happen, Daniel," Richard continued, laying out his terms as if ordering dinner. "You will instruct your security team in Zurich to hand over all master encryption keys for that cloud server. You will sign a full confession acknowledging sole responsibility for the offshore transfers. In exchange, I will ensure you serve your sentence in a minimum-security facility in Oregon. Five years. You'll be out in three."
"And if I refuse?" I asked.
Richard smiled—a cold, lifeless expression. "If you refuse, the federal prosecutors will push for the maximum sentence. Wire fraud, money laundering, enterprise corruption. Forty years. You will die in a federal penitentiary."
"You can't buy the entire justice system, Sterling," I said, my fists clenching beneath the table.
"I don't need to buy the entire system, Mr. Vance," Richard murmured, leaning closer. "I only need to own the people handling your file. And as of an hour ago, your case has been transferred directly to the Special Prosecution Division. A division I helped fund."
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He stood up, tapping his cane against the floor.
"You have until eight o'clock tomorrow morning to make your decision," Richard said, turning toward the door. "Choose wisely, Daniel. Your brilliant career is already over. Don't throw away the rest of your life."
