Chapter 4 - THE PAPER TRAIL
The early morning sun of a chilly Thursday did nothing to warm the frosted glass windows of the municipal court building where the emergency hearing was scheduled.
I sat in the wheelchair provided by the hospital, my white linen gown replaced by a simple, dark wool coat, my hands resting flat against my daughter's secure heartbeat monitor.
Beside me sat my attorney, Blanca, her desk covered in the decrypted transaction logs and the forged digital signatures that Grant had used to plunder our family's accounts.
"We have completed the complete forensic audit of the Calloway trust, Claire," Blanca whispered, turning her screen toward me to display the rows of highlighted financial indicators.
"Your husband didn't just try to smother you to cover a private debt; he had already signed the international transfer papers to sell your grandfather's patents to a Swiss shell company."
"The transaction was scheduled to clear at exactly eight o'clock tomorrow morning, but because the bank flagged the arrest warrant, the funds are frozen."
"They thought because you were pregnant, because you were isolated in that hospital room, you wouldn't have the strength to check the registries," she added.
"They forgot that before I married Grant, I spent twelve years auditing the very firms they used to hide their stolen wealth," I replied, my green eyes flashing with a predatory focus.
"My mother and his family believed they could treat my life like a temporary administrative expense, but the ledger is finally ready to balance."
The double doors of the hearing room opened, and Arthur Calloway stepped inside, his face a pale mask of raw panic as he looked at the federal marshals stationed near the benches.
"Claire, please, let us talk about this privately," Arthur pleaded, his voice trembling as he reached out his hand.
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"We can settle the accounts, we can transfer the maritime deeds back to your name without the media getting involved!"
"The media is the only thing that is going to keep you honest, Arthur," I said, not looking up as I signed the non-negotiable asset seizure files.
