Chapter 687: Evidence

The investigations had reached a point where neither the police nor the IRS needed to spend more time trying to establish whether Michael Erickson and Silas Vane were connected to the crimes under investigation.

The evidence was already there.

For weeks, different teams had examined the material received from Dayo, compared it with their existing records and followed the connections between companies, accounts, transactions and individuals. Some of the information had taken longer to verify than others, but the investigators had now established enough to build substantial cases against both men.

The police had completed their investigation into Michael’s activities. The financial investigators had done the same with Silas, tracing the movement of money through companies and accounts that had been used to conceal the wider operation.

There were still questions that needed answers, particularly about the roles of other people and the decisions made within the network. However, the investigators were no longer depending on Michael and Silas to explain what had happened before they could proceed.

They wanted to hear what the two men had to say.

At the police station, a meeting was taking place between the senior investigators handling Michael’s case and the legal team assigned to review the evidence. Several files were spread across the table, with a large screen displaying a connected map of companies, transactions and individuals.

One investigator brought up a summary of the financial records.

"We have verified most of the transactions connected to him. The companies, the transfers and the communication records are consistent with what we have been investigating."

Another officer moved to the next page. "We also have the material recovered during his custody period. Some of those records connect directly to the companies already identified. There are communications that establish his involvement, not just his association with the people running them."

The lead investigator looked through the documents before closing the file.

"Then we bring him in. I want to hear his explanation before we decide how to proceed with the remaining questions."

"Do you expect him to cooperate?"

"I don’t know. But he has been in custody long enough to understand that this isn’t going away. We have enough to put the case before the prosecution. If he wants to explain his involvement, this is his opportunity."

Across the city, the IRS team was preparing for Silas.

His file was considerably larger. It contained records from several companies, financial arrangements, ownership structures, transfers and communications that linked him to the network. The investigators had also identified transactions that appeared to have been deliberately structured to make the movement of money difficult to follow.

They had spent time confirming the material independently rather than relying on the information supplied to them. That work was now largely complete.

One of the senior investigators stood beside the screen as his colleagues reviewed the final report.

"How much have we confirmed?"

"Most of the major financial connections. We have supporting records from the institutions involved, and the company documents match several of the transactions."

"What about the remaining companies?"

"Some details are still being examined, but the evidence already established is sufficient for the questioning."

The investigator picked up his folder. "Then let’s speak to him."

Neither team intended to make the interviews a public spectacle. They wanted answers, admissions where possible and explanations that could be compared against the records already in their possession.

For Michael and Silas, however, the questioning would be the first time they had to face the full extent of what had been gathered against them.

Michael was informed that investigators wanted to speak with him later that morning.

The officer who delivered the message did not provide much explanation. He simply told Michael that arrangements were being made for a formal interview and that he would be taken to the appropriate room when the time came.

Michael had been expecting something like this.

Since his remaining privileges were suspended, he had spent much of his time trying to understand what was happening outside. The occasional information passed to him had been enough to establish that the situation was deteriorating, but he had no proper way to follow events or confirm how far the investigations had gone.

He had already considered what might happen if the authorities decided to question him again. The possibility had been sitting in the back of his mind, even when he tried to occupy himself with something else.

When two officers eventually arrived, he followed them without making an argument.

The interview room was simple. There was a table, several chairs and recording equipment set up for the proceedings. Two investigators were already waiting, with a collection of documents arranged in front of them.

Michael was shown where to sit.

"Mr. Erickson, thank you for coming in. We want to ask you some questions concerning the investigations into your financial activities and your connections to the companies currently under review."

Michael looked at the documents before answering.

"I want my lawyer."

"That’s fine. We can arrange legal representation before proceeding with the interview."

"Then arrange it."

One of the investigators closed the folder in front of him.

"Is that what you want to do now, or would you like us to explain what this interview concerns first?"

Michael looked at him. "I just said I want my lawyer."

"Understood. We will make the necessary arrangements."

The investigators did not argue with him. They were prepared to wait until he had legal representation, and the interview was paused while the arrangements were made.

Left alone for a short period, Michael sat quietly.

He had known this day would come, although knowing it was coming had not made it easier to accept. He thought about the people he could once reach with a single call, the companies that had handled money for him and the arrangements he had maintained for years.

None of those things could help him now.

The evidence found during his custody period had already exposed parts of his activities. The larger investigation had gone further, connecting those discoveries to the financial network he had helped manage. He had lost his access to the outside world before understanding just how much the authorities knew.

If he had known earlier, perhaps he would have tried to move things around. Perhaps he would have warned certain people or found a way to protect some of the remaining arrangements.

But he had not known.

And now there was little point pretending that he could still control what happened.

When the interview resumed, his lawyer was present. The investigators explained the purpose of the questioning and went through the procedure before presenting the first set of documents.

Michael listened while they explained the transactions.

They showed him records connecting several companies, including payments made through accounts that had been used to manage parts of the network. He was also shown communications recovered during the investigation, with dates and names that matched the financial records.

At first, he answered carefully.

When asked about one company, he explained that he had been responsible for managing its financial arrangements. When questioned about another, he admitted that he had communicated with the people involved but tried to separate his own responsibilities from the decisions made by Silas.

The investigators did not accept every explanation without question.

They brought up another document.

"This communication was sent from an account connected to you. It concerns the movement of funds between two of the companies we have just discussed. Can you explain your involvement?"

Michael studied the page.

"I handled the transfer."

"Who instructed you to arrange it?"

"That depended on the transaction."

"Who instructed you in this particular instance?"

Michael looked at the date again. "Silas."

The investigator made a note.

"Was that common?"

"Yes. I managed several of those arrangements for him."

The questioning continued, and the documents became more specific. Each answer was checked against another record. Whenever Michael tried to leave something unclear, the investigators returned to the details.

Eventually, the lead investigator placed another file on the table.

"This contains communications and financial records relating to the wider network. We have established your involvement in several of these arrangements. We want to understand how decisions were made and who else was involved."

Michael looked through the pages.

He recognised the names.

Some belonged to people who had worked with him for years. Others were connected to the companies that had helped move money through different jurisdictions. There were also records that brought the investigation closer to the people who had controlled the network.

He stopped at one particular document.

The investigator noticed.

"Do you recognise it?"

"Yes."

"Can you explain what it concerns?"

Michael took a moment before answering.

"I’ve already admitted to some of these things. I was involved in managing the financial side of the operation. I know how some of the arrangements were made, and I know the people who were involved."

"Then we would like you to explain that."

Michael looked at his lawyer briefly before returning his attention to the investigators.

"Fine. I’ll answer what I can."

His tone had changed. He was still careful, but he was no longer trying to deny every connection placed in front of him.

He began explaining the work he had done over the years, the companies he had managed and the instructions he had received. He also made it clear that some decisions had been made by Silas, while he had been responsible for carrying them out.

The investigators listened and asked him to clarify particular details.

They did not treat his cooperation as proof that every statement was true. Each admission would still need to be checked against the records and other evidence. However, Michael was now providing information that could help them understand how the network had operated.

His lawyer occasionally asked for clarification or advised him to be careful about a particular answer. Michael listened, but he continued responding to the questions.

By the time the interview reached its later stages, the investigators had obtained several admissions that they had not received from him before.

Michael was not walking away from responsibility. He knew that much.

But he had stopped pretending that he could make the evidence disappear.

Silas’s interview began very differently.

When the IRS officers arrived to inform him that investigators wanted to question him, his first response was to demand his lawyers.

"I want my legal team here. All of them."

The officer explained that arrangements could be made, but Silas was already becoming irritated.

"Then make the arrangements. I’m not answering anything without them."

"That is your right, Mr. Vane. We will arrange for legal representation."

Silas continued complaining about his treatment as he was taken to the interview room. He had already been informed that his special privileges were gone, and the restrictions had left him with very little control over his circumstances.

The investigators were waiting when he entered.

There were several files on the table, and the main screen displayed a collection of financial records.

Silas looked at the room before taking his seat.

"What is this supposed to be?"

"We want to ask you questions about your financial activities, the companies connected to you and the transactions identified during our investigation."

"I have already told your people that I want my lawyers."

"We are aware. They are being contacted."

"Then there is nothing to discuss."

The lead investigator remained calm.

"We can wait for them. In the meantime, we would like to inform you of the matters under investigation."

Silas leaned back.

"Go ahead. I’ve heard enough of this already."

The investigator opened the first file.

He began with the companies connected to Silas and the transactions that had moved through their accounts. He explained the findings without rushing, identifying the records that supported each part of the investigation.

Silas initially appeared uninterested.

He had heard accusations before. He had spent years dealing with people who asked questions about his businesses, and he knew how to respond when he wanted to keep a conversation from going further.

But then the investigator moved to the next document.

"This company received funds from an account connected to another entity under your control. The transaction was followed by a transfer to a third company. We have obtained the supporting records from the institutions involved."

Silas glanced at the document.

"That company has its own management."

"Who appointed the management?"

Silas did not answer.

The investigator placed another record beside it.

"This communication concerns the same arrangement. We have also obtained the corresponding financial records."

Silas looked at the screen.

For a moment, he seemed unable to decide which part of the information to challenge first.

"Where did you get this?"

"From the records obtained during the investigation."

"That doesn’t answer my question."

"It is the answer we are providing at this stage."

The investigator moved to another section of the file, showing him records of transactions involving additional companies. Some were familiar to Silas. Others were connected to arrangements he had believed were sufficiently separated from his personal interests.

He recognised the names, the dates and several of the accounts.

His expression changed.

"How much do you people have?"

"We have gathered a substantial amount of evidence."

"That is not what I asked."

"We will address your questions through the proper process."

Silas looked from one investigator to another. He was no longer sitting comfortably.

They showed him another set of documents, this time concerning the ownership structures behind several companies. The investigators had followed the records and identified connections that were not obvious from the companies’ public information.

Silas stared at the pages.

He knew the arrangements.

He knew why certain companies had been created and why money had moved through particular accounts. He had been involved in decisions that were never supposed to appear together in one investigation.

Yet there they were.

"How long have you been working on this?" he asked.

"That information is part of the investigation."

Silas looked back at the documents.

If he had known they possessed this much evidence earlier, he might have approached the situation differently. He might have tried to understand the full extent of the investigation before allowing himself to become so openly frustrated. He might even have considered whether there was a way to protect some of his remaining interests.

Instead, he had spent time demanding information he could no longer access, while the investigators outside continued putting the pieces together.

He was only now seeing how much had already been established.

The lead investigator brought up another section.

"We also have records connecting these companies to payments and arrangements involving individuals under investigation. We would like you to explain your role."

Silas looked at him.

"I have no comment."

"Are you denying your involvement?"

"I said I have no comment."

The investigator continued. "We have records showing that you had authority over several of these arrangements. We also have communications that appear to establish your involvement in decisions concerning the movement of funds."

Silas pushed the document away.

"I want my lawyers."

The investigator stopped.

"We have already made arrangements for them."

"Then bring them here."

The interview was paused while the legal arrangements were completed. Silas remained visibly irritated, and the officers accompanying him had to remind him to keep his voice down when he began complaining about the investigation.

His lawyers eventually arrived.

They were given the relevant information about the interview and allowed to consult with him before questioning resumed. Silas spoke to them at length, explaining what had been presented and demanding to know how the investigators had obtained so many records.

His lawyers examined the documents available to them.

The position was difficult.

There were records from financial institutions, company documents, transaction histories and communications that connected several parts of the network. They could challenge the interpretation of particular transactions, question the way certain material had been obtained and advise Silas on how to respond.

What they could not do was make the evidence disappear.

When the interview resumed, his lawyers were seated beside him.

The lead investigator returned to the questions.

"Mr. Vane, we would like to continue with the financial arrangements involving the companies listed in this document."

Silas looked at his lawyer before answering.

"My position hasn’t changed. I have no comment."

The investigator moved to the next record.

"Do you recognise this company?"

Silas remained silent.

"Do you recognise the transaction?"

He said nothing.

"Can you explain why the payment was made through this particular account?"

Silas looked increasingly uncomfortable.

His lawyers occasionally asked the investigators to clarify a question or identify the supporting record. They also advised Silas when they believed a response could create further problems for him.

But the interview was not going the way Silas wanted.

He had expected to be able to challenge the investigators and force them to explain themselves. Instead, every attempt to dismiss a document led to another record being presented.

He was beginning to understand that the investigation was far beyond what he had imagined.

At one point, he turned toward his lawyer.

"How is this possible?"

His lawyer did not answer immediately.

"Silas, we need to be careful about what you say. We have to review the entire file before deciding how to respond to every allegation."

"Look at it. Look at what they’re showing me."

"I am looking at it."

"Then tell them they have it wrong."

His lawyer lowered his voice. "We cannot simply tell them that. We need to examine the records and identify what can actually be challenged."

Silas turned back toward the investigators, clearly unhappy with the response.

The lead investigator waited until the conversation ended before continuing.

"We are prepared to give you the opportunity to explain your involvement. However, we will proceed with the evidence we have, whether or not you choose to answer our questions."

Silas looked at the documents again.

He had spent years believing that the people around him could keep his activities protected. Even after his arrest, he had found ways to maintain influence through arrangements that should never have been allowed.

Those arrangements were gone now.

Michael was no longer available to manage things for him. His contacts were beyond his reach. The companies were being examined, and the investigators had connected financial records that he had expected to remain separate.

He looked at his lawyer again, but there was no easy answer waiting for him.

The interview continued, although Silas remained largely uncooperative.

The two investigations were taking different directions.

Michael had begun providing information about his involvement and the way the network operated. The police would still need to verify his statements, but his cooperation had given them another source to compare with the evidence already collected.

His lawyer understood that his client’s position was serious. Any cooperation would have to be handled carefully, and there was no guarantee that it would result in a particular outcome. Still, Michael had made it clear that he intended to answer questions rather than spend the entire process denying what the records already showed.

Silas, on the other hand, remained unwilling to give the investigators anything useful.

His lawyers were now dealing with a large body of financial evidence, and their immediate task was to understand the allegations and determine how best to respond. Silas wanted answers quickly, but the case was too complicated for anyone to resolve with a few phone calls or a demand to speak to someone influential.

When the questioning finally ended for the day, Michael was returned to his custody area with his legal arrangements to be handled through the proper channels.

Silas was taken back to the IRS holding facility, still angry about what he had seen and unwilling to accept how far the investigation had progressed.

Neither man had been convicted. The authorities still had to take the cases through the proper legal process, and the evidence would ultimately have to be presented and tested in court.

But something had changed.

Michael had begun cooperating with the police, while Silas had chosen to fight the investigation without making any admissions.

For the first time, their positions were moving in different directions.

And neither man could return to the way things had been before.