Chapter 9 - The Arraignment
At 8:30 AM, Landon Maddox strode into the mahogany-paneled boardroom of his legal team on the fiftieth floor of the Willis Tower.
He looked victorious. He wore a brand-new charcoal bespoke suit, his gold cufflinks gleaming in the morning light. Evelyn sat at his right, wearing dark sunglasses indoors, her chin raised in arrogant expectation.
Across the table, I sat alone with Maeve Sterling. June was safely tucked away in a secure nursery room at Maeve’s firm, guarded by bonded private security.
Landon dropped a leather portfolio onto the table. “You’re late, Greer. You have fifteen minutes before Julian’s arraignment judge takes the bench.”
“Sign the papers, Greer,” Evelyn demanded, not taking off her glasses. “Surrender the foundation shares and give up the baby. Your family doesn't have the stomach for a war with us.”
“Before I sign anything,” I said, resting my hands calmly on the table, “I think you should look at the updated exhibit list.”
Landon smirked, shaking his head. “Greer, we told you. Your little photographer’s gallery doesn't scare us. My lawyers will have those pictures excluded under hearsay exceptions within an hour.”
“We’re not talking about Tessa’s photos anymore, Landon,” Maeve said.
Maeve slid three documents across the table.
Landon glanced down carelessly, but as his eyes registered the first page, the smirk froze on his lips.
Page one: A full digital forensic extraction of Harper Quinn’s phone, containing Evelyn Maddox’s text messages from the O'Hare tarmac, timestamped security footage of Evelyn entering the baggage holding area, and a signed confession from the airport attendant who took five thousand dollars in cash to slide the lockbox into Julian’s luggage.
Page two: A federal arrest warrant issued thirty minutes ago by the Northern District of Illinois for Evelyn Maddox on charges of interstate evidence tampering and framing an innocent citizen.
Page three: An emergency freeze order on every account held by Crestview Capital, accompanied by an immediate suspension of Landon’s license to practice law.
Evelyn tore off her sunglasses. Her face was as pale as chalk. “What is this? Landon, what is this?!”
The door behind them swung open.
Three plainclothes federal agents stepped into the boardroom, led by an assistant U.S. attorney.
“Evelyn Maddox?” the lead agent said, holding up a badge. “You are under arrest for conspiracy, evidence tampering, and obstruction of justice. Please stand up and place your hands behind your back.”
“You can’t do this!” Evelyn shrieked, backing away toward the window. “Do you know who my family is?! Landon, do something!”
Landon didn't move. He sat pinned to his chair, staring at the documents, his face draining of all color until he looked like a corpse.
“Harper spoke to the DOJ at six this morning, Landon,” I said, my voice steady and unwavering. “She surrendered all the offshore account records. The Caymans. The shell companies. And the Cayman visa applications for you and Victoria Vance.”
Landon looked up at me, his eyes wide with a terrifying mixture of shock and sheer panic. “Greer… listen to me… that was a mistake… I can explain everything…”
“Save it for the judge,” Maeve said.
The federal agents cuffed Evelyn, reading her Miranda rights as she screamed obscenities across the table, her dignity completely shattered as she was marched out of the corporate suite in front of dozens of her son’s colleagues.
The lead agent turned to Landon. “Mr. Maddox, your surrender has been negotiated for noon today at the Dirksen Federal Building. If you fail to appear, a fugitive warrant will be issued immediately.”
The room went dead silent.
Landon sat alone across from me, his empire burning to ash around him.
“You destroyed me,” he whispered, his voice trembling.
May you like
“No, Landon,” I answered, standing up and smoothing my jacket. “You destroyed yourself the second you let another woman hold my child.”
***
