Chapter 17 - The Confession in the Sunroom
Julian walked into the bright, sun-drenched living room, his eyes scanning the minimalist decor, the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the lake, and finally resting on me as I motioned toward the velvet armchairs.
“I’m not here to advocate for Marcus,” Julian said quietly as he sat down, placing his briefcase on the coffee table. “In fact, Marcus is completely unaware that I’m in Chicago right now.”
“Then why are you here?” I asked, remaining standing beside the table, arms loosely crossed.
Julian unzipped his briefcase and pulled out a manila folder, sliding it across the glass surface. It wasn't sealed with legal tape, but the stamp on the front bore the logo of an independent federal investigative subcommittee.
“Because my brother and Marcus didn't just hide patent royalties from you, Clara,” Julian said, his expression grim. “They hid them from the federal tax authorities and the hospital’s grant endowments. When Marcus was forced out of Metropolitan General, the internal audit triggered a wider federal probe into the entire cardiovascular research department.”
I looked down at the folder without touching it. “I’m a state health auditor, Julian. Not a federal prosecutor.”
“I know,” Julian sighed, running a hand over his face. “The federal investigators discovered that Marcus was systematically funneling research grant money into private shell companies controlled by Elena Vance—the same woman who was tied to that corporate embezzlement ring last year.”
My breath caught slightly. Elena Vance. The name conjured memories of dark hair, burner phones, and federal marshals storming a safehouse.
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“What does that have to do with me?” I asked sharply.
“Because when Marcus signed over seventy percent of his visible assets to you in the divorce settlement, those assets were technically tied to funds under active federal subpoena,” Julian said grimly. “The government could technically attempt to claw back settlement capital if they prove it originated from the embezzled research grants.”
