Chapter 10 - The War That Started Before They Were Born
Henry Vance had spent thirty-two years as a federal banking examiner.
Arthur rarely discussed his father's career because their relationship had been difficult.
Henry believed banking needed strict boundaries.
Arthur believed responsible banks could grow aggressively without becoming corrupt.
They argued constantly.
Julian had remembered only an intimidating grandfather who smelled of tobacco and carried yellow legal pads.
He never knew Henry had investigated Victor Vale.
Federal archives confirmed it.
Seventeen years before Meridian Trust collapsed, Henry had warned regulators that Victor Vale was constructing networks of shell companies around regional banks.
The investigation failed.
Witnesses withdrew.
Records disappeared.
Henry retired soon afterward.
Victor continued.
"Why didn't Grandfather stop him?" Nathan asked.
Arthur stared at the old file.
"He tried."
A sealed memorandum showed Henry believed someone inside the regulatory agency had been protecting Victor.
He never identified who.
Then, three weeks before his death, Henry contacted Samuel Crawford.
That meant Samuel's investigation had not begun at Metropolitan Crown.
It had been inherited.
From Henry.
Then Marianne.
Then Samuel.
Now Julian and Nathan.
Julian felt less like he had discovered a fraud and more like he had stepped into a war his family had been fighting without telling him.
A federal investigator named Agent Rachel Kim took control of the case.
She was practical, impatient, and unimpressed by wealth.
"We need Victor alive," she said.
Julian stood across from her inside a secure conference room.
"Marcus will lead us to him."
"Assuming Marcus isn't dead."
Julian disliked the possibility but knew she was right.
Marcus had failed publicly.
Victor did not seem forgiving.
Agent Kim placed photographs on the table.
Traffic cameras had captured Marcus's car leaving the city.
Two hours later, it entered an abandoned industrial district near the eastern corridor.
Then disappeared.
Julian studied the map.
One property belonged to a shell company connected to Crown Meridian.
A former printing warehouse.
They obtained a warrant.
At 2:15 a.m., federal agents entered the building.
Julian was not allowed inside.
He waited in a vehicle with Arthur and Nathan.
Twenty minutes later, Agent Kim emerged.
"We found Marcus."
"Alive?" Julian asked.
"Yes."
Arthur exhaled.
"But Victor isn't there."
Marcus was found tied to a chair in a basement room.
His face was bruised.
One finger broken.
Victor's people had already begun punishing him.
When investigators questioned him, Marcus initially refused to speak.
Then Julian entered the medical holding room.
Marcus glared.
"You ruined everything."
Julian pulled up a chair.
"No. Your grandfather did."
Marcus laughed bitterly.
"You think he's my grandfather?"
Julian paused.
"Records say he is."
"Records say a lot of things."
Marcus looked toward the observation camera.
"Victor doesn't have family."
"What does that mean?"
"It means he collects people."
Marcus explained.
His real father had worked for Victor.
When Marcus was five, his father disappeared.
Victor paid for Marcus's schooling.
Introduced himself as a distant relative.
Raised him into banking.
Training him.
Grooming him.
Using him.
"You still chose to participate," Julian said.
Marcus looked at his broken hand.
"I know."
"Then help us stop him."
Marcus smiled without humor.
"You can't stop Victor."
"Why?"
"Because Victor isn't a person anymore."
Julian frowned.
Marcus leaned closer.
"He's a system."
Victor maintained independent groups.
Most did not know each other.
Some worked in banks.
Others in law firms.
Real estate companies.
Government offices.
Each received isolated instructions.
If one failed, the others continued.
"Who gives Victor orders?" Julian asked.
Marcus's face changed.
"No one."
"Samuel said somebody inside the Vance family did."
Marcus stared.
"Samuel misunderstood."
"Then explain it."
Marcus lowered his voice.
"Victor didn't take orders from someone inside your family."
Julian waited.
"He became part of it."
Before Julian could ask what that meant, alarms sounded in the hallway.
Agent Kim rushed inside.
"Everybody out."
Smoke poured from the ventilation system.
May you like
Someone had triggered a fire inside the federal building.
And Marcus suddenly began convulsing.
