Chapter 5: The Federal Call
Chapter 5: The Federal Call
The phone rang a second time.
Then a third.
The words on the screen seemed to burn into Damian Cross's eyes.
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
For the first time in nearly fifteen years, his hands trembled.
He stared at the caller ID, hoping it would disappear.
It didn't.
Jonathan Pierce noticed the screen.
"So," he said quietly, "they've already begun."
Damian shot him a murderous glare.
"You called them."
Jonathan shook his head.
"I didn't have to."
He glanced toward the reporters still standing behind the security line.
"The entire country just watched what happened here."
Damian swallowed hard before pressing the answer button.
"This is Damian Cross."
A calm male voice answered.
"Mr. Cross, this is Special Agent Daniel Brooks with the Federal Bureau of Investigation."
Damian forced confidence into his voice.
"What can I do for you, Agent?"
"We're notifying you that a federal investigation has been opened concerning allegations of domestic violence, financial misconduct, and possible obstruction of justice."
Damian laughed.
"This is ridiculous."
"Is it?"
The agent's tone never changed.
"We've already obtained multiple video recordings from your residence."
Damian looked toward the reporters.
His stomach tightened.
The live broadcasts.
Every camera.
Every microphone.
Everything had been recorded.
"We'd appreciate your cooperation."
"I don't answer accusations over the phone."
"You won't have to."
A brief pause followed.
"Our agents will meet you shortly."
The call ended.
Damian slowly lowered the phone.
The room felt smaller.
The walls seemed to close in around him.
Meanwhile...
Three miles away...
Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
The emergency entrance burst open as doctors rushed Evelyn's stretcher through the automatic doors.
"Nineteen minutes from initial hemorrhage," one nurse called out.
"Blood pressure?"
"Ninety over fifty-eight."
"Heart rate one-thirty."
"Twins, thirty-one weeks."
Dr. Amelia Carter walked beside the stretcher without slowing.
"Prep Operating Room Four."
"Notify neonatal intensive care."
"I want two NICU teams standing by."
The hallway exploded into organized chaos.
Doctors stepped aside as the team raced toward the surgical wing.
Evelyn struggled to keep her eyes open.
Bright ceiling lights passed overhead one after another.
Everything sounded distant.
Muted.
She felt someone squeeze her hand.
Dr. Carter.
"Stay with me."
Evelyn nodded weakly.
"My babies..."
"We're doing everything possible."
Another contraction ripped through her body.
She cried out.
The pain was unlike anything she had ever imagined.
Back at the penthouse...
Celeste Monroe quietly picked up her designer handbag.
She moved toward the hallway as discreetly as possible.
Marcus Hale stepped directly into her path.
"I'm leaving."
"No."
"You can't stop me."
"I can."
Marcus held out a document.
"You've been instructed to remain available as a material witness."
Celeste frowned.
"Witness to what?"
Jonathan answered.
"Assault."
Her breathing caught.
"I didn't hit anyone."
"You encouraged repeated abuse."
"I never touched Evelyn."
"No."
Jonathan's voice remained calm.
"But according to over a dozen witnesses downstairs..."
He opened another folder.
"...you repeatedly mocked a visibly injured pregnant woman while standing beside her attacker."
Celeste's face turned pale.
"You can't arrest someone for words."
Jonathan met her gaze.
"No."
"But a jury can certainly hear them."
Downstairs...
The luxurious ballroom looked nothing like it had an hour earlier.
Half-empty champagne glasses covered abandoned tables.
Flowers had been knocked over as guests rushed to leave.
Television crews occupied nearly every corner.
One reporter stood before a live camera.
"We've now confirmed that Evelyn Cross has been transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital under critical care."
Behind her, another headline flashed across the news ticker.
Cross Capital Shares Resume Trading Under New Leadership
Within seconds, the company's stock began climbing.
Financial analysts looked stunned.
"Investors appear to support the Board's decision."
"This may become one of the largest executive leadership reversals in modern corporate history."
Inside Cross Capital Headquarters...
The Board of Directors gathered around the forty-foot walnut conference table overlooking the Chicago River.
Chairwoman Linda Ashcroft stood at the head of the room.
"Ladies and gentlemen..."
She looked at the empty CEO chair once occupied by Damian.
"Let's begin."
Martin Reeves, the CFO, adjusted his glasses.
"Our liquidity remains stable."
"The hostile takeover has not disrupted operations."
Another director nodded.
"Markets are responding positively."
Linda remained focused.
"Our first priority isn't the market."
She looked around the table.
"It's Evelyn."
Silence settled over the room.
Everyone understood.
Without Evelyn...
None of them would be sitting there.
One of the directors cleared his throat.
"Should we delay implementation until she's recovered?"
Linda slowly shook her head.
"No."
She opened a sealed envelope.
"This was delivered to me six months ago."
The directors exchanged curious looks.
"It contains Mrs. Cross's emergency instructions."
She unfolded the first page.
"If I am ever incapacitated..."
"...the Board will continue executing every governance reform exactly as written."
Another page followed.
Then another.
Each contained detailed instructions.
Corporate restructuring.
Executive appointments.
Financial safeguards.
Risk management.
Everything.
The room was speechless.
Martin finally broke the silence.
"She planned every possibility."
Linda smiled faintly.
"That's why she deserves this company."
At the hospital...
The operating room doors closed.
Nurses surrounded Evelyn.
An anesthesiologist adjusted the IV.
"We're going to help you sleep."
Evelyn fought to stay awake.
"I..."
Her voice trembled.
"My babies..."
Dr. Carter leaned beside her.
"They're fighters."
"So are you."
A single tear rolled down Evelyn's cheek.
"If..."
She struggled to finish.
"If something happens..."
"It won't."
"But if it does..."
Dr. Carter gently squeezed her hand.
"I'll protect them."
Those words finally allowed Evelyn to close her eyes.
The anesthesia slowly pulled her into darkness.
The monitor continued its steady rhythm.
Two tiny heartbeats echoed through the operating room.
Everyone silently prayed they would keep beating.
Back at the penthouse...
The private elevator chimed once again.
This time...
Three men and one woman stepped out.
Dark suits.
Gold badges.
Professional expressions.
The lead agent approached Damian.
"Mr. Cross?"
Damian forced a smile.
"Can I help you?"
The woman removed a leather credential wallet.
"Special Agent Brooks."
"Federal Bureau of Investigation."
She looked him directly in the eye.
"We have several questions."
Damian folded his arms.
"My attorney isn't here."
"That's fine."
"We're not arresting you."
Yet.
The unspoken word hung heavily in the air.
Special Agent Brooks accepted a tablet from her partner.
She tapped the screen once.
A video began playing.
The room instantly filled with Damian's own voice.
"Get downstairs."
"Quit acting like you're dying."
Then came the horrifying sound of a body being dragged across marble.
Every person in the room looked at Damian.
His own words...
His own laughter...
His own cruelty...
Echoed through the silent penthouse.
Agent Brooks stopped the recording.
"We recovered this from one of the live broadcast cameras."
She paused.
"And Mr. Cross..."
She slid a sealed evidence bag onto the table.
Inside was Evelyn's shattered phone.
"Our cybercrime unit has already begun reviewing its contents."
Damian's confident smile vanished.
Because hidden inside that phone...
Were years of encrypted files.
Private recordings.
Financial documents.
Security backups.
Medical reports.
And evidence he never knew Evelyn had been collecting.
As Agent Brooks looked up from the evidence bag, she spoke the words that made Damian's blood run cold.
May you like
"I have a feeling..."
"...this investigation is going to be much bigger than domestic violence."
