Chapter 5 - The Financial Trap
I stood up from the bed, feeling a cold fury replace the shock in my veins. For seven years, Marcus had played a long, calculating game. It wasn't just about isolating Sarah emotionally; it was about systematically stripping away every asset she owned until she had nowhere left to turn.
"Can the bank freeze the transfer?" I asked Vance, stepping toward the hallway.
"They're trying," Vance replied, tapping his tablet. "But Marcus used an offshore routing service. If that money clears before a judge signs an emergency injunction, it'll be split into a dozen digital wallets within seconds, and we’ll never see it again."
Sarah struggled against the hospital pillows, her face flushed with fever and anger. "There's a physical safe," she said, her voice strained. "In the basement behind the old brick pillar at our house. Marcus keeps his hard drives there—the real financial records, the forged documents, everything he used to steal my identity and set up the fake accounts. If you get those hard drives, we can prove to the federal authorities that he defrauded every institution he touched."
I looked from Sarah to Deputy Vance. The blizzard outside was still raging, but the winds were starting to die down, leaving behind towering drifts of heavy, wet snow.
"I'm going back to the house," I said.
Vance shook his head. "Doctor, the roads are still unplowed. You won't make it in a standard vehicle."
"I drive a modified Jeep Wrangler with heavy winch capabilities," I retorted, grabbing my heavy winter coat from the chair. "I live in the Cascades, Deputy. I know these roads better than the snowplows do."
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Vance studied me for a moment, then tossed a set of heavy radio keys onto the bedside table. "Take my department radio. Channel four connects directly to dispatch. If you find those hard drives, don't try to play hero with Marcus if he circles back. Call us."
"I just want to finish what my sister started," I said, turning on my heel.
