Chapter 9 - The Price of Loyalty
The Monday morning sun rose over Chicago with a brilliant, blinding clarity, reflecting off the fresh snow covering the steps of the federal courthouse.
Victoria Hargrove walked down the corridor in full orange department corrections clothing, her hands and feet secured by heavy steel chains that clinked loudly with every step she took. Her auburn hair was greasy, her face pale and lined with the reality of her new existence.
Sitting across from her in the visitor's room behind thick, reinforced glass was Marcus. He sat in a simple chair, wearing a fresh gray suit, his hands folded neatly on the counter.
"You think you won, Marcus?" Victoria sneered, her voice cracking through the intercom system. "You think you’re a hero? You destroyed my family’s name. You put me in a cage."
"You put yourself here, Victoria," Marcus said softly, his voice entirely devoid of anger. There was only a profound, cold pity in his eyes. "Your family’s name was already dead. You just wanted to use my life to buy a bigger tombstone for it."
"I will appeal," she hissed, her fingers clawing against the glass surface. "Vance will talk. He’ll cut a deal and bring you down with us."
"Vance signed a full confession two hours ago," Marcus replied smoothly, sliding a legal document against the glass for her to see. "He gave up the entire New York syndicate in exchange for a non-maximum security facility. You’re alone, Victoria. Nobody is coming to save you."
He stood up, buttoning his jacket, looking down at the woman he had once thought he would share his life with.
"The engagement ring has been liquidated," Marcus added as he turned to leave. "The proceeds were donated entirely to a local charity that provides emergency housing for single mothers in the south side. I thought it was a better use of the asset."
As Victoria’s screams of rage echoed behind the reinforced glass, Marcus walked out into the crisp winter air, where Arthur was waiting beside a clean, warm SUV.
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"The board has completely cleared the compliance audit, Marcus," Arthur said with a wide smile, handing him a coffee. "The federal contracts are secure. Stock price is already rebounding by twelve percent in early trading. We did it."
Marcus looked at the vehicle, then back toward the highway leading toward Lake Geneva. "Get the estate ready, Arthur. We have a lot of cleaning up to do."
