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Finn
After a lengthy conversation with Arroyo and a Supervisory Special Agent from the FBI’s White Collar Crimes division, we agree to organize a meeting with Derrick and Ramada.
We lure them back to the Golden Sequoia Estate the next morning, claiming that we want to reconsider their offer to launch a new cryptocurrency together. Kace goes as far as to message Ramada in private, inviting her to have lunch afterwards. Just the two of them.
They both fall for it. Hook, line, and sinker.
Greed and arrogance tend to blind such people, and it works great for us, because we get to watch these bastards burn for everything they did.
We welcome Derrick and Ramada into our executive lounge with fresh smiles and premium coffee, letting them settle in before we spring the not so pleasant news on them. There’s a streak of sadism in our approach, but honestly, after the shit they put us through, I believe we’re entitled to this inkling of satisfaction before we go to Amaya and try to fix what was broken.
Part of me is worried she’ll turn us away again. I guess we’d deserve that, too.
“I’m so glad you came around on this,” Ramada says, as softly and as sweetly as she can muster, unable to take her sparkling eyes off Kace.
He’s being the supreme dick, too, by picking the seat closest to her and even pouring her coffee with steady hands. “It was a matter of when, not if, I suppose,” Kace says. “Once you opened our eyes to what Amaya did, we realized that all of her warnings regarding Derrick’s shady business endeavors were lies designed to keep us away from a hell of a lot of money.”
“It’s a good thing you recognized the truth,” Derrick says. “Honestly, I’m not happy about how I handled my relationship with Amaya, either, but I couldn’t let her torment me any longer. I hope you’re alright after what happened.”
Kace nods once, watching Derrick like a hawk. “I’m great, actually. And ready to sign this deal, if you two are.”
“We are,” Ramada says. “Leon won’t be joining us, I’m afraid, but I’ve decided to cover his part of the investment, too. That’s how much I believe in this project.”
If that’s accurate then she is truly a formidable idiot and deserving about what’s coming her way. I can’t help but laugh. It’s ridiculous, really, and I have a low tolerance for such charades. “I’m sorry, I thought I could hold it in for a little while longer,” I tell Kace and Elias. “I just can’t.”
“What?” Ramada asks, understandably confused.
Elias gives me a wink. “It’s cool, bro. I was getting bored already, anyway.”
“I don’t understand,” Derrick tentatively says.
“Let me help you understand,” Kace replies with remarkable self-control, even though I know he’d rather just rip the bastard’s head off with his bare hands. He takes out a series of documents and spreads them across the table.
The photos he sent to Amaya. The DNA test results. And a copy of Dr. Hynes’s arrest record, complete with a rather unflattering mugshot. “You two have been playing a very dangerous game with the wrong people, and you’re about to suffer the consequences.”
Ramada gasps in some kind of feigned outrage, while the color drains from Derrick’s weasel-like face altogether. But Kace is just getting started. Elias and I get to sit back and enjoy the show. I should’ve gotten some popcorn for this.
“I’m not sure how much you know about Derrick’s business history, Ramada, but you must be a complete moron to believe any of his bullshit about a new money-making cryptocurrency that’s gonna shake the market,” Kace says. “Then again, you both may very well believe in this project with all your hearts, but it doesn’t change everything else. And it goes as follows,” he adds, looking at Derrick first. “You stalked my partners and me, you took lurid photos of our most private and personal lives, and then you used them to gain some kind of leverage.”
“That’s insane!” Derrick snaps.
“Your place in Sacramento is getting tossed as we speak,” Kace replies. “I’ll get the SD card with the original photos, and the FBI’s forensics specialists will scour through every single digital footprint of yours until I get every fucking image in my possession. You will never get to use any of those photos against us, ever. On top of that, you are going to be arrested for a litany of charges before this meeting is over, and I know that the same federal forensics experts will dig deeper into your previous business endeavors and find enough to put you in jail for a long time.”
“Kace, what the hell are you talking about? I had nothing to do with any of this!” Ramada tries to cut her losses, putting on a pair of frightened doe eyes.
Kace raises an eyebrow at her but chooses to continue to demolish Derrick, first. “Add to the above a pending charge of fraud. You see, we know you forged the DNA results, and Sacramento PD is actively pursuing a case against you on the matter. Your buddy Hynes sang like a bird.”
It’s Ramada’s turn. “We traced the payments back to you, Ramada, so you’ll be charged, as well. And you’re the big fish for the feds in this story. I reckon they’ll have a field day combing through your financials. I look forward to finding out what other unlawful shit you’ve done, because your arrogance is only outmatched by your stupidity.”
“I don’t have to listen to this shit,” Derrick says and gets up, visibly flustered.
The beads of sweat trickling down his temples tells me he knows precisely what’s coming next, and he is trying to get ahead of it. Unfortunately for him, as soon as he opens the door, he comes face to face with Detective Arroyo and a couple of uniformed officers ready to cuff him.
“So, yeah, this went well,” Kace says, casually relaxing in his chair as he gives Ramada a cold smile. “You just don’t know when to give up, and that’s your kryptonite. You deserve everything that’s coming to you. And I wanted to be here to see the look on your smug face when you realize that your whole world is about to come crashing down on you.”
“We won’t be visiting you in jail,” I quip as the cops come in.
“Derrick Stanton, you’re under arrest,” Arroyo says, quick to take charge of Derrick. The man barely has a moment to register what’s happening before he tries to get away, but to no avail.
