Chapter 6 - The Fall of the Empire
The dismantling of Michael Carter’s life was executed with the same surgical precision he had attempted to use on mine.
Within forty-eight hours of his arrest, federal prosecutors slapped him with an unappealable indictment spanning attempted first-degree murder, interstate insurance fraud, wire conspiracy, and multi-million-dollar embezzlement of Vextor corporate funds. Bail was denied outright; the judge cited flight risk and the chilling nature of a husband attempting to murder his nine-month-pregnant wife in a remote national park.
Ashley didn't fare any better. Faced with immediate termination, asset freezing, and criminal conspiracy charges, she turned state's evidence within three days, handing over encrypted hard drives, text message threads, and signed financial agreements proving that Michael had masterminded the entire plot from inception to execution.
Seated behind the massive mahogany desk in my newly reclaimed executive office on the fortieth floor, I stared out at the panoramic view of the Denver skyline. The sun was setting, painting the jagged peaks of the Rocky Mountains in shades of bruised purple and brilliant gold.
The very mountains where he had tried to bury me.
The office door opened softly, and Marcus stepped in, holding a secure encrypted tablet.
"The corporate restructuring is complete, Claire," Marcus reported, his expression respectful. "All of Michael's personal assets have been seized under civil forfeiture laws to cover legal fees and restitution. His bank accounts are frozen down to the last cent. He won't even be able to afford a decent public defender by the time trial starts next month."
"Good," I replied calmly, not taking my eyes off the horizon. "Let him experience what it feels like to have everything stripped away in a single second."
Marcus hesitated for a moment, shifting his weight. "There's one more thing. Michael has requested a prison visitation. He says he needs to speak with you directly."
May you like
I turned my chair around, a cold, humorless smile touching the corners of my lips.
"Tell him I'll be there," I said. "Every monster deserves a final audience with his creator."
