I turned away from his pleading face and looked directly at Lauren and the state investigators.

“Execute the formal receivership petition with the county court right now,” I instructed firmly.

“Freeze every commercial operational account tied to Faulkner Commercial Builders, and remove both Brandon and Brenda from the board of directors immediately.”

Brenda scrambled to her feet, knocking her leather purse to the carpet as she rushed toward my side of the table with outstretched hands.

“Paige, please have some mercy on us,” Brenda begged, all of her previous cruelty dissolving into pathetic desperation.