Chapter 34: Conflict of Interest

Federal Bureau of Investigation, Financial Crimes Division.

A young federal agent stormed into the bullpen, clutching a stack of financial dossiers.

He threw the files down onto his desk, the crack causing everyone in the office to look up from their monitors.

"We have been investigating Jude Lawson for a month since the Zenith Motors takeover, and this is everything we have?" the young agent cursed.

"The man is a ghost," one of the forensic accountants sighed, rubbing his temples. "He rarely leaves a digital trail. The data in those files is the result of us working day and night, tracing routing numbers through Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, and Luxembourg. And every single wire transfer clears international banking regulations perfectly."

"Perfectly?" the young agent scoffed. "If a twenty-something kid suddenly drops billions of dollars in liquid cash to execute hostile takeovers of major conglomerates, there has to be a trace of illicit origin somewhere! You don’t just generate billions out of thin air!"

"But look at what we’ve actually found!" the accountant shot back. "The most serious infractions are aggressive corporate coercion, minor SEC reporting delays, and a few assault charges leveled against some underground fixers who won’t even testify against him!"

The young agent grew agitated, slamming his hand flat against the desk. "I refuse to believe Jude Lawson hasn’t gotten his hands dirty with international wire fraud or racketeering in all this time!"

A hand landed on his shoulder, making him jump.

The young agent turned. "Supervisory Agent Thorne."

The other analysts in the bullpen also rose to their feet. "Agent Thorne."

Saul Thorne, a veteran investigator, gave a nod before looking at the young agent. "Shouting about it in the bullpen won’t do a damn bit of good. We build federal RICO cases based on hard evidence, and a federal judge signs warrants based on that evidence. We don’t prosecute based on rumors from rival CEOs."

"But Agent Thorne," the young investigator pleaded, gesturing at the files. "With the evidence we have against Lawson right now, he’ll get a minor corporate fine at most. Everyone in the financial sector knows who he is and the leverage he possesses. I can’t believe he doesn’t have a single count of money laundering to his name."

Saul Thorne’s reply was calm. "Evidence. Let the financial ledgers do the talking."

"Agent Thorne, we’ve investigated almost every corporate entity connected to Lawson," the forensic accountant interjected, opening a file. "His inner circle is tight. All the subsidiaries in his name are clean... if there was dirty money, he’s laundered it so thoroughly that the IRS can’t even find a misplaced decimal point."

"Based on the infractions we can prove against Lawson, a federal judge won’t even authorize a subpoena, let alone the confiscation of his corporate empire," the young agent muttered bitterly.

These words plunged the Financial Crimes bullpen into silence.

Just then, there was a knock on the door of the bullpen.

"Agent Thorne," a junior agent called out. "Agent Shepherd’s team just returned from serving a routine inquiry at Apex Studios, that new joint venture Lawson acquired. They brought back someone with close ties to him. Do you want to handle the questioning personally?"

Saul Thorne nodded firmly. "I’ll go. Set up Interview Room Four."

Inside the interview room, Harper sat in a chair.

She was wearing her vintage denim jacket, looking out of place in the sterile federal building.

A female agent poured her a glass of water from a pitcher.

"No need to be nervous, Ms. Harper," the female agent said. "This is just a standard interview room, not a hostile interrogation. Just answer truthfully to whatever we ask you in a bit."

Harper didn’t look nervous in the slightest. She smiled and nodded, her hands resting on the table.

Soon, footsteps approached from the hallway outside. Agent Shepherd, who had been leaning against the doorframe, straightened up.

The opened, and Saul Thorne walked in, holding a legal notepad.

Their eyes met.

For a moment, Saul Thorne froze in the doorway.

He stared at Harper, his brain convinced he must be hallucinating.

The President of Apex Studios, the billionaire’s newest corporate lieutenant... was his girlfriend?

Harper looked up at him as well. Her expression was simple, almost blank, as if she had expected this exact scene to unfold eventually given his line of work.

"Agent Thorne?" Agent Shepherd called out.

Saul Thorne composed himself, his jaw clenching tightly.

He turned to Agent Shepherd. "I’m recusing myself from this interview."

Agent Shepherd nodded.

Saul Thorne gave Harper one long look. He turned on his heel and left the interview room without saying another word.

Agent Shepherd looked at Harper, surprised to find her calm, showing no emotional reaction to her boyfriend’s sudden departure.

Agent Shepherd opened his notepad and began the interview. "No need to be nervous. Just answer our questions regarding your employer, and you can leave when we’re done."

Harper nodded.

Agent Shepherd clicked his pen. "When did you first meet Jude Lawson?"

"Recently," Harper answered smoothly.

Agent Shepherd frowned slightly. "So you’ve only known him for a very short period of time?"

"Yes."

"You’ve known a billionaire for just a few days, and you are already the President of his multi-billion-dollar film studio? It seems you two have a very unique relationship."

"Yes, we do."

Agent Shepherd leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Are you just business partners who work well together, or is there another kind of relationship privately? Are you romantically involved with the target?"

"No," Harper smiled faintly. "He’s my mentor. You could say he’s like a sworn brother to me. He protects my creative vision."

Agent Shepherd narrowed his eyes. "Brother? To your recollection, has Mr. Lawson ever mentioned his past to you? The source of his capital?"

"No."

"Not even once? For instance, his struggles coming up in the financial world, the identity of his offshore backers, or any corporate enemies he’s made in the shadows? Nothing?"

"No," Harper replied, unbothered. "When we’re together, we discuss our film projects and the studio’s creative direction. I know nothing about his financial past."

Harper’s gaze never wavered once.

Her eyes were clear and bright, and her answers came without a single moment’s hesitation, showing no sign of careful deliberation or panic.

The reason Harper was calm was because Jude Lawson had sat her down in the executive lobby just yesterday and given her one guarantee.

"I will never ask you to lie for me, Harper," Jude had told her. "Anything I tell you is something you can freely repeat to the authorities. Anything you’re not supposed to say, I will simply never tell you in the first place."

Because of this promise, Harper knew she didn’t need to lie, and that nothing she said in this room could ever threaten or harm the empire of the man who had changed her life...