My Husband Struck Me in Front of Our Entire Family, Pointed to the Door, and Shouted, “Get Out! You Own Nothing Here!” My Mother-in-Law Smiled and Called Me a Worthless Wife Who Should Be Thankful They Had Ever Accepted Me. I Said Nothing.

CHAPTER 8 - Infiltrating the Ghost

The rain had stopped by midnight, leaving a thick, ghost-like fog rolling off the Atlantic Ocean, wrapping Charleston in a blanket of grey dampness.

Inside a secure conference room at the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s field office on East Bay Street, Claire sat across from Special Agent David Sterling—the lead investigator assigned to the newly reopened Rowan Vance homicide case.

On the wall behind Agent Sterling were photographs of Victor Vance from twenty years ago, alongside recent long-lens surveillance photos taken of a secluded estate on Sullivan’s Island.

"We verified the surveillance photos three hours ago, Miss Rowan," Agent Sterling said, pointing a laser pointer at the image of a tall, distinguished man with silver hair and a sharp jawline stepping out of a beachfront villa. "The man calling himself 'Julian Sterling' is indeed Victor Vance. He has been living under a forged Panama passport for twenty years, laundering money through offshore real estate developments in South America."

"And his connection to Garrick’s assault in prison?" Naomi asked from beside Claire.

"We intercepted a encrypted wire transfer from a Swiss account linked to Julian Sterling to a prison gang leader in Estill forty-eight hours before Garrick was attacked," Agent Sterling revealed. "Victor wanted Garrick silenced before Garrick could deliver that metal box to Claire. Victor knew the box contained the original poison receipts."

Claire leaned forward, staring at the photograph of Victor Vance. "He murdered my father. He used Miriam to infiltrate our lives. He tried to have his own nephew killed in prison. Why now? Why file the legal claim against Rowan Coastal Group after twenty years?"

"Because Victor’s offshore accounts in Panama were frozen by federal regulators two months ago," Agent Sterling explained. "He’s broke, Claire. He needed the coastal land owned by Rowan Coastal Group—valued at over sixty million dollars—to satisfy international creditors who were threatening his life. He used Miriam to launch the legal claim because he believed you would panic and settle out of court."

Claire stood up, her dark eyes gleaming with absolute, unyielding determination. "He miscalculated."

"Miss Rowan," Agent Sterling warned gently. "Victor Vance is a dangerous, desperate man. He has nothing left to lose. We are preparing an arrest warrant, but his legal team is fighting the extradition jurisdiction because his Panama citizenship is still technically active."

"Then we don't wait for extradition," Claire said smoothly, looking at Naomi. "Naomi, file a counter-motion in civil court requesting an immediate In-Person Deposition of the Claimant. Under South Carolina civil procedure, if a plaintiff files a claim regarding real estate equity, they are legally required to appear in court within seventy-two hours to verify their identity under oath."

Naomi smiled—a sharp, lethal smile. "If he shows up to the deposition, federal agents can arrest him on American soil the moment he signs the attendance register."

"And if he doesn't show up?" Agent Sterling asked.

"If he doesn't show up," Claire said, picking up her coat, "his entire lawsuit is dismissed with prejudice, his offshore claims are dissolved forever, and he loses his last chance to steal my father's legacy."