Chapter 3 - The Uninvited Guests
A squad of ten federal agents dressed in dark suits and windbreakers bearing the letters FBI marched into the ballroom, followed by two armed United States Marshals. Leading them was a tall woman with sharp gray eyes and a steel-gray coat: Special Agent-in-Charge Katherine Vance—Graham’s estranged older sister and the lead investigator for the Department of Justice’s Financial Crimes Division.
"Graham Vance," Katherine announced, her voice cutting through the panic like a blade. "Victoria Ardell. Savannah Ardell. Stand where you are."
Graham stumbled backward. "Katherine? What are you doing here? This is my wedding!"
"Not anymore," Katherine replied, pulling a thick stack of warrants from her coat pocket. "Victoria Ardell, you are under arrest for federal bank fraud, racketeering, and conspiracy to commit murder."
Victoria’s jaw dropped. "Murder?! Are you out of your mind? Who did I try to murder?!"
Katherine turned her head, looking directly at Eleanor sitting in the corner. "Eighteen months ago, Eleanor Whitaker did not suffer a random stroke. Her medical records were tampered with. Poison—a rare synthetic neurotoxin—was administered to her over six months through her daily vitamin supplements, sourced directly from a pharmaceutical firm owned by Ardell Enterprises."
The ballroom went dead silent.
Savannah screamed, covering her mouth, while Victoria stepped back into the table, knocking over a silver water pitcher.
"That's a lie!" Victoria screamed frantically. "You have no proof!"
"We have the lab reports, the purchase orders signed with your digital key, and the confession of your personal physician, who was taken into custody twenty minutes ago," Katherine said coldly. She motioned to the federal agents. "Handcuff her."
Two agents grabbed Victoria’s arms. She kicked and screamed, her expensive diamond bracelets rattling violently as she was forced down onto the marble floor—the exact same floor where she had shoved Eleanor minutes earlier.
"Graham! Savannah! Help me!" Victoria shrieked as the cold steel handcuffs clicked around her wrists. "Do something!"
Savannah backed away, sobbing hysterically. "I didn't know! I swear I didn't know anything about poison! Graham told me she was just sick!"
Graham looked like a cornered animal. He looked at Victoria being dragged away, then at Savannah, and finally at Katherine.
"Katherine, please," Graham begged, his voice cracking. "I'm your brother. Talk to me!"
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"You're a traitor to this family and a monster to the woman who built your career," Katherine said without a shred of pity. "Graham Vance, you are under arrest for corporate embezzlement, wire fraud, and attempted murder as an accessory."
As an agent stepped forward to cuff Graham, he suddenly ducked, shoved the officer aside, and made a desperate break toward the side exit of the ballroom.
