Chapter 4 - THE DEPOSITORY AUDIT
At 10:00 AM on Tuesday, the grand marble lobby of the First Dominion National Bank in downtown Richmond was silent, except for the quiet hum of vault doors opening in the basement.
Richard Carter sat behind a massive oak desk in the executive suite, staring nervously at his laptop screen. Beside him stood his daughter, Victoria, pacing back and forth in a expensive tailored suit.
“Dad, Mother’s bail was set at five hundred thousand dollars!” Victoria hissed, her voice trembling. “The judge refused to drop her passport! If she stays in that holding cell for another forty-eight hours, the local news will air the mugshot!”
“I know! I know!” Richard snapped, wiping sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief. “I am trying to transfer the bail money from the grandmother’s trust account right now, but the system is throwing a red flag!”
Before Victoria could answer, the frosted glass doors of the executive suite swung open.
Three men in sharp, charcoal-gray business suits walked into the office, led by an elderly man carrying a thick leather briefcase.
Richard recognized him instantly: Harrison Vance, senior partner of the state’s most ruthless forensic accounting firm—and Alexander Hale’s personal estate attorney.
“Richard Carter,” Harrison said crisply, walking up to the desk without waiting for an invitation. “I am here on behalf of Major Emily Carter-Hale.”
Richard’s face drained of color. “Harrison... what is the meaning of this? Emily has no business with this bank.”
“She is the sole legal beneficiary of the Eleanor Carter Trust Fund,” Harrison replied, opening his briefcase and placing a certified court injunction directly on top of Richard’s keyboard. “As of 8:00 AM today, a federal court has granted an emergency freeze on all accounts associated with the estate, pending a full forensic audit.”
“You can’t freeze these accounts!” Victoria yelled, stepping forward furiously. “My mother needs that bail money!”
“Your mother’s bail money was stolen from federal trust funds,” Harrison said coldly, looking at Victoria over his half-moon spectacles. “Furthermore, federal marshals are currently executing a search warrant at your father’s investment firm in Alexandria. Every ledger, server, and offshore transfer record from the last six years is being seized.”
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Richard collapsed backward into his leather chair, his mouth hanging open. “She... she married a General... and she brought the federal government down on us...”
“Major Carter-Hale didn't bring the government down on you, Mr. Carter,” Harrison said smoothly, snapping his briefcase shut. “You did that yourselves the moment you decided to treat an officer of the United States Military like your personal scapegoat.”
