Chapter 20: The Illusion of Hope
Inside the federal holding facility, Dominic Sterling was pacing back and forth across the narrow concrete floor of his holding cell.
His court-appointed attorney, Mr. Harrison, was sitting on the edge of the metal bunk, reviewing a preliminary paperwork draft.
"I'm telling you, Harrison, the prosecutor is going to take the deal," Dominic said, running a hand frantically through his hair, his voice laced with manic optimism. "If I testify against Richard Davis and hand over the remaining corporate contact points, they have to drop the primary money laundering charges! I’ll be out in eighteen months, tops!"
Harrison looked up from the paperwork, his expression cautious and tired. "Dominic, don't get ahead of yourself. A plea deal isn't finalized until the judge signs off on it. The prosecutor’s office still has to verify the integrity of your disclosures."
"They'll verify it, they'll verify it!" Dominic insisted, waving his hand dismissively. "Richard is out of the country anyway, so pinning the operational structure on him is a slam dunk. Once I’m out, I can rebuild. I'll get back into high-society networking, I'll find someone new..."
He stopped pacing for a second, a brief flicker of bitterness crossing his face.
"...someone who actually appreciates my status, instead of that ungrateful nobody Vivienne."
Harrison stared at his client in absolute disbelief. Even now, sitting in a federal holding cell awaiting trial for white-collar crime, Dominic still didn't grasp the reality of his own actions. He still blamed everyone else for his ruin.
Before Harrison could respond, the heavy steel door of the holding block swung open.
A prison guard stepped into the hallway and walked directly up to Dominic’s cell. The guard didn't look pleased. He unlocked the heavy iron latch and pulled the door open with a loud, echoing clatter.
"Sterling," the guard barked. "Pack your things. You're being moved."
Dominic stopped pacing, a triumphant smile spreading across his face. "Moved? Where? To a minimum-security wing? Is the plea deal approved?"
The guard gave him a cold, humorless stare. "You're not going to a minimum-security wing, Sterling. You're being transferred to maximum holding, and your attorney has been summoned for an emergency evidentiary hearing with Judge Miller first thing tomorrow morning."
Dominic’s triumphant smile froze on his face. "An... an emergency hearing? Why? What happened?"
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Harrison dropped his paperwork onto the metal bunk, his face turning pale. He looked at the guard, then slowly turned his gaze back to Dominic.
"I think," Harrison whispered, his voice trembling slightly, "our plea deal just went up in smoke."
