"You don't have to do this interview," I tell her.
"Yes, I do." Her voice is firm. "Armand was monitoring feeds from inside my building. FBI needs to understand exactly what he's been doing."
Remy's waiting when we arrive at Rapier Strategic. He nods to me, keeps his distance. We both know what's changed.
Two FBI agents stand when we enter the conference room. Special Agent Adrian Locke extends his hand.
"Mr. Pascal. Ms. LaCroix. Thank you for coming in."
We shake. Locke's partner, Special Agent Isabella Rivera, has sharp eyes that catalog details the way I do. Assessing, calculating, building her case.
"We've been through the evidence from the maintenance room," Locke says. "Access logs place Armand Deveraux at the monitoring station multiple times over months. Combined with financial evidence linking him to Julien LaSalle, we have grounds for federal charges."
"What charges?" Simone asks.
"Wire fraud, conspiracy to commit stalking and witness intimidation. Building related charges for Julien LaSalle's execution, though that evidence is more circumstantial." Rivera pulls out a tablet. "Once we arrest Armand, this becomes very public. We need to coordinate your protection and media strategy."
"Simone stays at the estate," I say. "Secured, no media access."
"Agreed." Locke makes notes. "We'll include her as a victim in the federal complaint. That'll buy her some cover from the press."
My phone buzzes. Text from Andy:
Raid teams in position. Armand confirmed at the Deveraux Oil office. Ready to execute.
Simone's sitting beside me, shoulders back, hands folded. She's holding it together.
I show the screen to Locke. He reads it, nods.
"Execute," he says into his phone. "Both locations simultaneously."
I’m aware of everything—Simone’s breathing beside me, her fingers pressed together, Rivera watching us, Remy standing near the windows with his arms crossed.
Locke's phone rings. The sound cuts through the silence.
He answers. Listens. His posture shifts slightly.
"Confirmed," he says. "Armand Deveraux in custody. Federal charges filed. Transport him to federal holding."
He ends the call and looks at us. "It's done. Armand Deveraux has been arrested on federal charges. He's being processed now."
The words land heavy. Simone's fingers tighten where they're folded in her lap. I feel the breath she takes, the way she forces herself to stay composed.
Quiet for a long moment. Then: "It's really over."
"Immediate threat is neutralized," I correct. "The legal battle is starting."
"But he can't hurt me from a federal holding cell."
"No. He can't."
Rivera stands. "We'll need follow-up interviews once we process seized evidence. That can wait. Coordinate with your attorney for public statements."
We shake hands, head for the elevator. Simone's quiet on the drive to Henry's office through downtown streets. I let her have the silence.
Media vans swarm Henry's building when we arrive. Cameras flash as we exit the SUV. I keep Simone close, one hand on her lower back, scanning for threats even though the immediate danger is gone.
Inside, Henry's coordinating with his team, building the framework to protect Simone while Armand's empire crumbles. Legal strategy, media positioning, narrative control.
