Chapter 7 - Thunder on the Sound
The grand entrance parlor of the Valente estate was bathed in afternoon sunlight as two federal agents—Special Agent Miller and Special Agent Harris—stood near the marble staircase, holding thick leather document folders.
They were accompanied by Richard Vance, Julian Mercer’s former corporate lawyer, who wore a smug, victorious smile on his face.
"Mr. Valente," Agent Miller announced as Luca descended the grand staircase with calm, majestic authority. "We are executing a federal arrest warrant for conspiracy to commit murder, racketeering, and extortion, based on sworn evidence provided by Julian Mercer."
Richard Vance stepped forward, adjusting his gold cufflinks. "It’s over, Luca. Julian handed the Special Prosecutor ten years of encrypted audio recordings. You’re going to spend the rest of your life in a federal penitentiary in Colorado."
Luca reached the bottom step. He didn't look at the agents. His eyes locked onto Richard Vance with a coldness that made the lawyer’s smug smile instantly falter.
"Audio recordings, Vance?" Luca asked smoothly.
"Full transcripts," Vance boasted, trying to regain his composure. "Recordings where Julian explicitly discusses dock payments, container bribes, and the liquidation of uncooperative personnel—including Mateo Reyes."
"Did you listen to those recordings, Agent Miller?" Luca asked, turning his gaze to the senior federal agent.
Agent Miller frowned. "The prosecutor reviewed the audio files provided by Mr. Vance last night."
Luca slowly pulled a sleek white flash drive from his pocket and held it out.
"This is the unedited master server file from Julian Mercer’s personal estate," Luca explained, his voice echoing off the high marble walls. "Julian didn't record those conversations to protect himself from me. He recorded them to blackmail his corporate partners—including Richard Vance."
Vance’s face went instantly pale. "That... that’s impossible! Those files were encrypted!"
"They were encrypted," Luca agreed, stepping closer. "Until my security director decrypted his backup drives three hours ago. On track fourteen, you can hear Julian Mercer calling Richard Vance thirty minutes after Mateo Reyes was run off Route 9. On that call, Vance, you personally authorized the five-hundred-thousand-dollar payout to the hitman from your firm’s escrow account."
Agent Miller’s head snapped toward Vance. "Is this true?"
"He’s lying!" Vance shrieked, his voice rising into a panicked, pathetic pitch. "He’s framing me! Search the house! Arrest him!"
Agent Harris immediately pulled his weapon, stepping between Vance and Luca, while Agent Miller snatched the white flash drive from Luca’s hand and plugged it into his portable laptop on the side table.
For two agonizing minutes, the parlor was dead silent, save for the digital audio playback coming from the laptop speaker:
“Is Reyes taken care of?” Vance’s recorded voice rang through the room with absolute clarity. “He’s dead,” Julian’s recorded voice answered. “Wire the money to the offshore account before his widow calls the police.”
Agent Miller snapped his laptop shut. His face was dark with righteous anger.
He turned slowly to face Richard Vance.
"Richard Vance," Agent Miller said, pulling out a pair of steel handcuffs. "You are under arrest for federal conspiracy to commit murder, obstruction of justice, and filing false sworn statements to a federal grand jury."
Vance stumbled backward, his hands shaking frantically as Agent Harris grabbed his arms and slammed him against the marble wall, slapping the cold steel cuffs over his wrists.
"Luca! Please!" Vance sobbed hysterically as he was hauled toward the front door. "I was just following Julian’s orders! I didn't want the man killed! Luca, help me!"
May you like
Luca stood at the foot of the staircase, his hands tucked neatly into his pockets, watching the disgraced lawyer get dragged out into the bright afternoon sun.
"I told you four days ago, Vance," Luca murmured as the heavy iron front doors shut behind them. "Important people protect the little people. And traitors destroy themselves."
