Chapter 7 - The Collapse of the House of Cards
“Raymond Vance and Daniel Vance,” Detective Vance said, her voice cutting through the room like a whip. “You are both under arrest for elder abuse, conspiracy to commit fraud, and grand larceny.”
For a moment, neither of them moved. The reality of the situation was too massive for their brains to process. They had walked into this room expecting to walk out a quarter of a million dollars richer. Instead, they were facing decades in federal prison.
“This is a mistake!” Ray shouted, his face turning an ugly shade of purple. He pointed a trembling finger at me. “She’s crazy! She’s making this up to steal our property!”
“Turn around and place your hands behind your back, sir,” the federal agent ordered, stepping forward with handcuffs unclipped.
Daniel completely broke. The smug, confident brother I knew crumbled into a terrified child.
“Elena, please!” Daniel begged, tears instantly streaming down his face. He lunged toward me, but a police officer grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. “I didn't want to do it! Ray made me! He said if we didn't take the money, the state would take it for her care! I was trying to protect my inheritance!”
“Your inheritance?” I scoffed, feeling a mixture of disgust and profound pity. “She is still alive, Daniel. And you were willing to let her die in the snow for it.”
“I'm sorry! I'll give it back! I'll pay it all back!” he sobbed loudly as the cold steel of the handcuffs clicked around his wrists.
Ray, ever the snake, immediately turned on him. “Shut up, you idiot! Officer, the boy has a gambling problem. He orchestrated the whole thing. I just signed the papers he put in front of me.”
“Save it for the judge,” Detective Vance said dryly.
I stood in silence and watched as they were marched out of the glass conference room, humiliated and broken. The title company employees stared in shock from the hallway.
Daniel looked back at me one last time, his eyes pleading for the big sister who used to cover for him when he broke a window or failed a test.
May you like
I didn't blink. I didn't turn away. I watched him until the elevator doors closed, severing him from our lives forever.
The storm was over. The poison was extracted. It was time to go back to the hospital.
