Chapter 7 - The First Domino Falls in Texas
Marjorie Kessler dropped her crystal juice glass in the kitchen as three black unmarked SUVs with flashing red and blue dashboard lights roared up the circular driveway, tires screeching against the gravel.
Behind them were two squad cars from the Texas Department of Public Safety and a mobile forensic unit from the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office.
“Reid!” Marjorie shrieked from the foot of the stairs. “Reid, come down here immediately! The police are outside!”
Reid stumbled out of the master bedroom, still wearing his silk pajama bottoms, his face pale as chalk. Tessa followed behind him, her hands trembling as she tied her robe.
Before Reid could reach the front door, the heavy oak double doors were pushed open.
Walking in were four armed Texas State Troopers, followed by an elegant woman in a tailored dark suit carrying a federal warrant folder: Special Prosecutor Victoria Vance—Marcus Vance’s niece and one of the most feared litigators in the state.
“Reid Kessler?” Victoria asked, her voice ringing through the cavernous marble foyer.
“What is the meaning of this?” Reid demanded, attempting to regain his corporate authority. “Do you have any idea who I am? You cannot trespass on private property without a warrant!”
Victoria Vance stepped forward, extending a signed judicial document with a razor-thin smile.
“This is a search and seizure warrant issued by the 5th Judicial District Court of Texas,” Victoria stated with icy calm. “We are seizing all digital recording devices, internal server racks, hard drives, and private communications equipment on this property.”
Marjorie rushed forward, her face contorted in outrage. “This is harassment! My son is the CEO of Kessler Global! We are hosting a major charity gala this weekend!”
“Your gala is the least of your concerns, Mrs. Kessler,” Victoria replied, signaling to the forensic tech team waiting outside. “We are investigating a felony charge of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, criminal conspiracy, and witness tampering.”
Tessa’s face turned gray. “Assault? That’s absurd! I’m the victim here! Audrey Bellamy attacked me on these very stairs last night! I have medical records!”
Victoria Vance turned her piercing gaze onto Tessa, looking her up and down with absolute contempt.
“Miss Langley,” Victoria said smoothly, “we have already reviewed the uncompressed 4K cloud backup of this foyer’s security system, retrieved directly from the secure offsite servers thirty minutes ago.”
Tessa’s breath caught in her throat.
“What?” Reid stammered, stepping forward. “That server is private property! It’s firewalled!”
“It was firewalled using encryption licensed from Bellamy Cyber Systems,” Victoria said coldly. “A system that belongs entirely to the victim’s family. The footage clearly shows Miss Langley walking to the stairs, checking the camera angle, and deliberately throwing herself backward.”
Victoria stepped closer to Reid, her eyes boring into his soul.
“It also shows you instructing your armed security guard, Miller, to physically assault your wife, resulting in eight broken ribs and displaced fractures. Miller was arrested forty-five minutes ago at his residence. He is currently singing like a bird in an interrogation room at Dallas Central Police Headquarters.”
Reid’s world began to spin. The walls of his multi-million-dollar foyer seemed to close in on him.
“Audrey...” Reid whispered, his voice cracking. “Where is Audrey?”
Victoria Vance closed her folder with a sharp, decisive snap.
“Mrs. Bellamy is currently in Boston, under the direct care of her father, Warren Bellamy.”
Marjorie gasped, clutching her throat. “Warren Bellamy? The... the defense contractor?”
May you like
Victoria smiled—a cold, merciless gesture.
“The very same. And Mr. Kessler? You have four hours to retain criminal defense counsel. Because by this afternoon, every asset bearing the Kessler name will be frozen under federal injunction.”
