Chapter 10 - Behind the Soundproof Glass
Three weeks later, the snow in Connecticut had turned into hard, gray ice.
I sat in a private consultation room at the federal detention center in Lower Manhattan.
On the other side of the heavy glass partition, Matthias was brought in wearing an orange jumpsuit. He had lost weight. His clean-shaven look was gone, replaced by patchy stubble and dark hollows beneath his eyes.
He picked up the red receiver.
I picked up mine.
“Serena,” he breathed, pressing his hand against the glass. “Thank God you came. Please tell me you talked to my father’s lawyers. They’re charging me with thirty-two felony counts. Serena, they’re talking about twenty years in federal prison.”
“The evidence is airtight, Matthias,” I said calmly. “The Department of Justice has every email, every offshore wire, and the full testimony from the technician Fiona hired to tamper with the gas regulator.”
“I didn't know about the gas!” he cried, tears spilling down his cheeks. “You have to believe me! I swear on our baby’s life, I didn't know Fiona was going to blow up the house! I just wanted the money! I wanted to show my father I could build an empire on my own!”
“You swore on our baby’s life?” I repeated, my voice dropping to a dangerous chill. “You brought your mistress to our family dinner while our daughter was kicking inside my womb. You don't get to speak her name.”
Matthias choked on a sob. “Please, Serena. Don't leave me in here. You’re my wife.”
I reached into my briefcase and pressed a manila folder against the glass.
“These are the divorce papers,” I said. “Sole legal and physical custody of our child. Complete forfeiture of any marital assets purchased during our nine years together. And a permanent restraining order effective immediately upon your release, whenever that may be.”
“I won't sign it,” he said, shaking his head frantically. “You can't make me sign it.”
“If you sign it today, Arthur’s personal attorneys will agree not to file civil racketeering suits against you, which means whatever trust money you have left won't be completely seized by the victims' fund.”
Matthias stared at the papers.
May you like
He realized he had zero leverage. Zero power. Zero dignity.
With trembling hands, he picked up the pen the guard provided and signed his name on the dotted line.
