Chapter 7 - The Final Stand at the Manor
Arthur’s desperation made him predictable.
That evening, Patricia’s legal representative received a urgent, frantic call from the Vance family estate lawyer. Arthur was attempting to liquidate fifty million dollars in real estate holdings and transfer the physical deeds out of the country before the federal court placed a complete freeze on his personal accounts at midnight.
To execute the transfer, he needed one final physical signature from Patricia on an original 1994 spousal consent deed stored inside the master safe at the Vance upstate manor.
"He's going to burn the house down," Patricia said, her hands trembling as she looked at me in my study. "He knows the federal court will freeze everything at midnight. He’s going to take whatever cash he can, burn the paper trails, and flee the country."
"Then we go to the manor," I said, strapping my laptop into my leather bag.
"Jessi, no!" Patricia cried out, grabbing my arm. "He's insane! He has armed private security at that estate!"
"And I have federal marshals tracking my GPS location every ten seconds," I smiled gently, placing my hand over hers. "It's time to close the book on Arthur Vance."
An hour later, my black SUV pulled up the long, winding driveway of the sprawling Vance estate in Westchester. The massive stone manor sat under the dark night sky, illuminated only by the harsh spotlights near the front entrance.
I stepped out of the vehicle alone, walking straight through the unlocked front oak doors into the grand foyer.
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Arthur sat near the massive marble fireplace in the living room, a glass of scotch in his hand, a heavy steel briefcase open on the table beside him. Beside him stood Luca, his casted arm still in a sling, his face pale and sunken. Standing near the patio doors were two towering men in dark tactical suits—unlicensed private security.
"You actually came," Arthur sneered, setting his glass down with a heavy clatter. "Stupid girl."
