Chapter 9 - Mutiny on the Titanic
Back at the modest two-bedroom rental in Queens where Evan, Barbara, and Kelsey had been forced to seek refuge, the atmosphere was poisonous.
Suitcases were piled near the door. Boxes of half-eaten Chinese takeout sat on the laminate counter. Barbara was lying on an old sofa with a damp cloth over her eyes, moaning about her migraine, while Kelsey paced the floor like a caged animal.
When Evan opened the front door, his tie hanging loose and his jacket missing, Kelsey turned on him instantly.
"Well?" she demanded. "Did the lawyer get the trust unfrozen? Can we get our money back?"
Evan didn't answer. He walked into the kitchen, poured a glass of tap water, and stood staring blankly at the stained sink.
"Evan! Answer me!" Kelsey shrieked, grabbing his arm. "My mother wants to know if you can pay for the baby’s private hospital suite! The deposit is due on Friday!"
"There is no money, Kelsey," Evan whispered, his voice completely flat.
"What do you mean there's no money?"
"The grand jury handed down the indictment today," Evan said, turning around with dead eyes. "Twelve counts. Bail is set at two million dollars. Since all our assets are frozen under the federal forfeiture order, I can't post bond. I have to surrender myself at the federal courthouse on Monday morning."
Kelsey stepped back as if he carried a contagious disease. "Surrender? You're going to prison?"
"We both know you're not blameless here, Kelsey," Barbara called out from the sofa, her voice sharp with bitterness. "You spent half a million dollars of corporate funds on jewelry and clothes! If my son goes down, you're going down with him!"
Kelsey’s face twisted into an expression of sheer disgust. She didn't scream. She didn't cry. Instead, she reached into her purse, pulled out a thick envelope stamped with the logo of the United States District Attorney, and tossed it onto the kitchen counter.
"What is that?" Evan asked, his heart sinking.
"My proffer agreement," Kelsey sneered. "I met with Clara's lawyer, Naomi Vance, two days ago."
Evan stared at her, horrified. "You... you went to Clara?"
"I gave them your personal laptop, Evan. The one with the offshore passwords and the encrypted spreadsheets," Kelsey said coldly. "In exchange, the U.S. Attorney granted me full transactional immunity. I'm not going to prison for you or your wretched family."
"You traitor!" Barbara screamed, sitting up on the couch. "We took you in! We gave you everything!"
"You gave me worthless promises and stolen money!" Kelsey screamed back, grabbing her bags from the foyer. "I’m taking my baby and going back to Ohio. Have fun in federal lockup, Evan."
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The front door slammed shut, echoing like a gunshot through the tiny apartment. Evan dropped to his knees, staring at the floor, completely and utterly alone.
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