Chapter 6 - The Freezing of Assets
By Thursday morning, the tide had turned with a force that shocked the Chicago financial sector. Armed with the corporate data extracted during the failed server raid, Assistant U.S. Attorney David Vance signed a sweeping federal indictment against Christopher Blake and Blake Systems.
Elena stood beside Dr. Margaret Chen outside the Dirksen Federal Building as a fleet of unmarked black SUVs pulled up to Blake Systems' headquarters across the street. Federal marshals, carrying cardboard boxes, marched into the building to execute a total asset seizure under the RICO statute.
"It’s a beautiful sight," Margaret said, handing Elena a paper cup of tea.
"It’s a start," Elena said, watching the news crews gather like vultures around Christopher’s corporate tower. "But Christopher still has his personal fortune. He can hire a legacy legal team to delay the criminal trial for a decade while I’m stuck in corporate limbo."
"Not anymore," James Harrison said, walking up to them from the courthouse steps. He handed Elena a certified copy of a court order. "I just delivered the forensic financial logs to the SEC. Christopher’s personal offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands were funded directly by the corporate fraud scheme. As of ten minutes ago, the federal judge ordered a total freeze on his personal assets. Christopher Blake cannot buy a cup of coffee without government approval."
Elena looked at the document, the weight that had pressed against her chest for three months finally lifting completely. Christopher wasn't a kingmaker anymore; he was a defendant with a public defender if he didn't cooperate.
Suddenly, her phone rang. It was an unlisted number.
Elena answered, her voice cool and unyielding. "Elena Rivera."
"You think you’ve won, Elena?" Christopher’s voice was raspy, stripped of its aristocratic polish, coming from what sounded like a payphone. "You’ve destroyed my company. You’ve ruined my reputation. But I will drag your name through every mud-stained court in this country before I let you profit from Taylor Guard. I’ll make sure your children are known as the products of a fraud."
"My children are the ones who saw through you, Christopher," Elena said, looking out at the Chicago skyline, no longer feeling like a stranger in her own life. "They knew you were a fake before I did. And as for Taylor Guard... it’s no longer my company."
"What?" Christopher gasped.
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"I transferred 51% of the voting stock this morning to a non-profit trust managed by Dr. Margaret Chen and the Lakeshore Institute of Technology," Elena revealed. "The algorithm is now open-source for public security, with all future commercial profits directed to funding education for single mothers in tech. You didn't just fail to steal it, Christopher. You made it permanent."
She hung up the phone before he could reply, turning to James and Margaret with a bright, genuine smile. "Let’s go pick up the kids. We have a playground to visit."
