Chapter 17 - The Ambush
It happened on a Tuesday.
Emily was walking to her car after a late shift at the hospital.
The parking garage was dimly lit, mostly empty.
She heard footsteps behind her.
Before she could turn around, a hand clamped over her mouth, pulling her into the shadows between two vans.
It was Cole.
He held a knife to her throat.
"Tell your mother to drop the evidence," he hissed, his breath hot against her ear.
"The flash drive.
We know she has it.
Give it back, or next time, I won't just talk." He threw her to the ground and kicked her in the ribs before disappearing into the stairwell.
Emily managed to call me, her voice ragged with pain and terror.
I rushed to the hospital, Dad right behind me.
When I saw her bruised and battered face, a cold, hard rage settled in my soul.
Michael had crossed the line.
He had hurt my daughter.
Dad paced the waiting room, his fists clenched.
"I’m going to kill him," he muttered.
"I’m going to tear him apart." I stopped him.
"No, Dad.
That’s what they want.
They want us to react blindly.
We’re going to use the law.
We’re going to bury him." I called Lena from the hospital.
"Give the flash drive to the FBI," I commanded.
"Everything.
Right now.
Don't wait for the trial.
Burn his whole world down." The next morning, federal agents raided Michael’s company headquarters and his parents' home.
They seized computers, documents, and assets.
The news broke on every major network.
The respected businessman was exposed as a massive fraud.
Michael was arrested again, this time by the FBI.
His bail was revoked, not because of the domestic violence, but because he was deemed a flight risk with access to offshore millions.
He was back in a cell.
We had struck a massive blow.
But the monster was wounded, and a wounded monster is the most dangerous kind.
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The trial was only weeks away, and Michael had nothing left to lose.
He was cornered, and I knew he would fight to the bitter end, dragging everyone down with him.
