Chapter 10 - THE CONFESSION
Three days after the spectacle at the Cathedral of St. Philip, the Herndon dynasty was reduced to ashes across international headlines.
THE BUCKHEAD HOUSE OF HORRORS: PROMINENT SOUTHERN FINANCIER ARRESTED AT ALTAR FOR KIDNAPPING AND FRAUD.
HEIRESS UNCOVERS BILLION-DOLLAR CONSPIRACY MINUTES BEFORE "I DO."
I sat across from Marcus Vance in the observation room of the Richard B. Russell Federal Building in downtown Atlanta. Through the one-way mirror, we watched Elijah Herndon sitting in an interrogation room, looking ten years older, stripped of his bespoke suits and wearing orange institutional scrubs.
Beside him sat his defense attorney, whose face was buried in his hands as Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Lin slammed a thick binder onto the metal table.
"Your Cayman creditors turned state's evidence two hours ago, Elijah," Lin said coldly. "They handed over every encrypted email, every wire confirmation, and the voice recordings of you threatening to liquidate Damian’s assets if the debt wasn't extended. And the administrator at Pinecrest Retreat just pleaded guilty to felony kidnapping under a proffer agreement. He named you and Gavin as the primary conspirators."
Elijah stared down at the metal table, his shoulders slumped, completely defeated. "What do you want?"
"A full, unreserved factual allocution," Lin demanded. "You testify against Gavin, you confirm Naomi’s direct involvement in the domestic abuse of Brianna Montgomery, and you sign over all remaining offshore claims to satisfy the restitution fund for Miss Montgomery and Miss Wellman. If you cooperate, we recommend thirty years instead of life without parole at ADX Florence."
Elijah let out a dry, broken sob. The mighty patriarch, who had terrorized his family for decades behind a facade of culture and high-society breeding, picked up the pen with trembling, liver-spotted fingers and began to sign his confession.
Marcus tapped the glass. "That's the ballgame, Alyssa. Naomi has already been denied bail due to flight risk and the severity of the aggravated battery charges. Gavin is facing twenty-five years for federal wire fraud, attempted corporate theft, and conspiracy. They will never set foot in private society again."
"And the Buckhead mansion?" I asked, looking through the glass.
May you like
"Foreclosed under the federal forfeiture order, with Wellman Media holding the primary priority claim," Marcus smiled. "The deed clears next Tuesday. The property is officially yours."
"Good," I said, standing up and smoothing my tailored charcoal trench coat. "Because I already know exactly what we’re going to do with it."
