“It’s done,” Pierce said, looking at me. “The state attorney is signing off on the warrant for Vance’s arrest right now.”

“But Vance isn’t in Denver,” Marcus said quietly, pointing a finger at one of the security monitors.

My eyes followed his hand to the screen.

The camera showed the main gate of the estate, partially obscured by the heavy snowfall.

A dark SUV was idling just outside the perimeter wall, its headlights cutting through the white flurry.

“That’s Vance’s personal vehicle,” Marcus said. “He’s been sitting out there for twenty minutes.”

“Why hasn’t he come in?” I asked.

“Because he knows,” Pierce said, his hand resting on his holster. “The moment my detectives walked into the Caldwell Systems headquarters in Denver with a search warrant, Vance’s phone would have lit up with alerts from his staff.”

“He’s desperate,” Marcus said. “His name is on the bank accounts we flagged this morning. If the homicide charge goes through, he loses everything. He’s looking at a needle.”

“He has no way out,” I said.

“He does if he has leverage,” Marcus replied, his voice chillingly calm.