Flying off on vacation with her boss’s husband, the happy woman waited for him at the airport. Suddenly, a fortune teller touched her hand…

«It’s not true,» she said firmly. «I didn’t participate in any fraud. On the contrary, Michael and I discovered this scheme and tried to expose it.»

She told the investigator everything from the beginning—about her relationship with Michael, how Victoria installed cameras and bugs in her office, how they found documents on Victoria’s computer, about the meeting with Paul and his promise to publish the investigation. Smith listened attentively, making notes. When Emily finished, he leaned back in his chair and looked at her thoughtfully.

«Interesting version,» he said. «But we have different information. According to our data, it was you and Michael Thompson who prepared the company’s bankruptcy.

You worked with documents, had access to financial reports, and Michael, as the CEO’s husband, could get any information and sign any papers. That’s not true. Emily exclaimed.

It was the opposite. Victoria organized the money-laundering scheme and prepared the bankruptcy. «We have evidence.»

«What evidence?» Smith asked. «The documents we copied from Victoria’s computer. They’re on the external drive we gave to Paul, the journalist who doesn’t exist.»

Smith clarified. Emily fell silent, realizing the absurdity of the situation. «I don’t understand,» she said quietly.

«We trusted him.» He promised to help. Smith sighed.

Victoria Hayes filed a report about missing important commercial documents three days ago. She claims you and Michael stole them for blackmail and fraud. Given your personal relationship with her husband, the motive seems quite obvious.

Emily felt a wave of anger and despair rising in her chest. That’s a lie. Victoria set it all up.

She knew about our relationship from the start, spied on us, recorded. Then used it as cover for her own crimes. Where’s the evidence? Smith asked calmly.

On the drive we gave to Paul, who doesn’t exist, Smith finished. Emily lowered her head. The situation seemed hopeless.

Without evidence, without witnesses, without the article—only her word against Victoria’s. And obviously, who would be believed more. «I want a lawyer,» she finally said.

Smith nodded. «That’s your right. We’ll provide a public defender if you don’t have your own.»

He stood from the table. Interrogation over. You’ll be escorted to a holding cell.

The hearing on pretrial measures is tomorrow. Emily remained sitting, unable to believe this was happening to her. How could they be so naive? How could they trust a stranger without verifying his identity, without ensuring his reliability? An officer escorted her to the cell—a small room with an iron bunk, table, and toilet in the corner.

The door clanged shut behind her, and Emily was left alone. She sat on the bunk, hugging her head. Everything failed.

Their plan collapsed. Now they faced charges of serious financial crimes, and the real criminal—Victoria—remained unpunished. How could we be so naive? Emily thought, recalling the meeting with Paul, his confident speeches, promises to help.

Who was he really? Victoria’s man? An independent scammer who decided to exploit the situation? Or just a fantasist imagining himself a great investigator? Regardless of the answer, the result was the same—they were trapped. And the evidence was gone. Emily didn’t know how long she spent in the cell, lost in gloomy thoughts.

She was snapped out by the door opening. An officer stood there. «Carter? Your lawyer is here,» he said.

Emily raised her head in surprise. She hadn’t contacted a lawyer yet. Maybe the public defender? She was led to the attorney meeting room—a small space with a table and two chairs.

A middle-aged woman in a strict suit sat at the table, glasses on her nose, folder of documents in front. «Hello, Emily Carter,» the woman said when the officer left and closed the door. «My name is Theresa Morgan.

I’m your lawyer, but I didn’t…» Emily began. «I know,» the lawyer interrupted. «Paul Kuznetsov hired me.»

Emily froze, not believing her ears. «Paul?» But the agent said he doesn’t exist. «Because Paul Kuznetsov isn’t his real name,» the lawyer said quietly.

«His real name is Paul O’Brien. He’s an agent with the FBI’s Economic Crimes Unit. For the last two years, he’s been investigating Victoria Hayes and her backers.»

Emily stared at the lawyer, unable to believe what she heard. «Paul is FBI?» «He’s been running his own investigation all this time.» «I don’t understand,» she finally said.

«If he’s FBI, why were we arrested? Why didn’t he help us?» Theresa pulled documents from the folder and laid them on the table. «It’s not that simple, Emily. The Victoria Hayes case is part of a large-scale investigation into a group of high-ranking officials and businessmen.

The operation was prepared for over a year, and you and Michael unexpectedly found yourselves at its center. So, we ruined everything?» Emily asked bitterly.

«No,» the lawyer shook her head.

«Rather, accelerated events. Paul planned to catch Victoria in the act during the asset withdrawal attempt. But when you found the documents on her computer, she sensed danger and sped up her plans.

We had to act faster. But why didn’t he tell us the truth? Why pretend to be a journalist? First, he couldn’t reveal his identity. Second, he wasn’t sure about you.

Didn’t know how involved you were in the scheme. Only after studying the documents you gave him did he realize you were really victims, not accomplices.» Emily pondered, recalling the meeting with Paul, his questions, his attentive gaze.

«Now much became clear. But why were we arrested?» she asked again.

«And where’s Michael? What’s with him? The arrest was necessary for your safety,» Theresa replied.

«After Victoria learned of the missing documents, she hired people to find you. Here, in custody, you’re safe. And Michael is giving statements to FBI investigators right now.

He’s fine.» «And the drive with evidence?» With Paul. The documents are being studied by experts and have already formed the basis of the case against Victoria and her backers.

Emily felt the tension of recent days easing. Not all was lost. Their plan worked, though not as they expected.

What happens now? she asked. With us, with the case? Theresa smiled for the first time in the conversation. You’ll be fine.

Charges will be dropped as soon as Paul presents all evidence and his recommendations. And Victoria? She paused, Victoria is already detained. What? Emily leaned forward.

But the agent said she left the country. «That was part of the operation,» the lawyer explained. Victoria did try to flee, but she was detained at Dubai airport on our agencies’ request.

Now the issue of her extradition is being resolved. And her backers are already under investigation here, in the US. Emily leaned back in her chair, processing the information.

It all sounded like a plot from a spy movie, not real life. «When will they release us?» Tomorrow, after formal dismissal of charges, Theresa replied.

«But you’ll have to stay in the city and be available for the investigation. Your testimony will be key in the case.» She gathered the documents back into the folder.

«I have one more question,» Emily said, recalling the strange airport encounter. «The fortune teller who approached me and warned of danger.» «Who was she?» «Also part of the operation.»

Theresa frowned. «Fortune teller?» «I don’t know about any fortune teller. That wasn’t part of the operation, as far as I know.»

Emily nodded. «So it was a coincidence after all. Or someone’s personal intervention that even the FBI didn’t know about…