Chapter 14 - The IndictmentForty-eight hours later, the dam broke.
Thanks to the financial documents Clara had pulled from Arthur’s briefcase and the testimony provided by the retired nurse, Sarah—whom Leo Miller had located living in Oregon—the State Attorney General’s office issued a grand jury subpoena for Arthur Vance and Vance Development.
On Thursday morning, as Arthur stepped out of his limousine outside his Bellevue estate, four federal agents and two state troopers intercepted him on his driveway.
"Arthur Vance," a lead investigator announced, unfolding an arrest warrant. "You are under arrest for conspiracy to commit kidnapping, bribery of public officials, felony bank fraud, and witness intimidation."
News crews, tipped off by Clara’s public relations team, captured the entire moment on live television.
The image of Arthur Vance—Seattle’s untouchable real estate titan—being handcuffed in his tailored suit while staring in disbelief at the cameras instantly went viral across the nation.
That evening, the grand jury returned a multi-count indictment. The Montgomery family formally issued a press release cutting all business ties with Vance Development and announcing that Clara Montgomery-Vance was assuming a leadership role on the board of trustees to oversee the restructuring of the firm’s stolen assets.
Sitting in a hotel room overlooking the Seattle skyline, Julian, Clara, and Evelyn watched the news coverage together.
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"It's finally happening," Clara whispered, resting her head on Julian's shoulder.
"It's the first step," Julian said, holding Evelyn's hand. "Now comes the trial."
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