“What is the meaning of this?” Daniel asked, his voice calm and controlled. “I am in the middle of a private administrative meeting.”

“We have a warrant for your arrest,” Vance said.

Daniel’s left eyebrow twitched, but his face remained expressionless.

“On what grounds?” one of his lawyers asked, stepping forward. “My client is a respected civic leader.”

“On the grounds of custodial interference,” Vance said. “And federal financial fraud.”

Vance reached into his pocket and pulled out a document.

“We have recorded evidence of you threatening to withhold medical treatment from Helen Vance to force your wife’s silence,” the agent said.

“That is a fabrication,” Daniel said, his eyes locking onto mine.

I did not look away.

“We also have the red ledger from your central archive,” Vance added.

Daniel’s composure fractured for a fraction of a second.

His eyes darted to the lobby doors, then to the elevator bank behind him.

“That ledger is proprietary corporate property,” Daniel’s lawyer said, his voice rising. “It was taken without a warrant.”

“It was delivered to us by an employee fleeing a destruction of evidence order,” Vance said.