Chapter 6 - Sirens at the Gate
Thursday.
I had moved out of the cabin.
For security reasons, my wealth management firm had relocated me to a private, gated estate in the hills, complete with a high-tech security system and twenty-four-hour on-site guards.
It was quiet. Peaceful.
I was sitting by the infinity pool, reading a book, enjoying the warmth of the sun on my skin.
Until the alarms went off.
A loud, piercing siren echoed across the property.
My security chief, a burly ex-military man named Vance (ironically enough), jogged out to the patio, touching his earpiece.
"Ms. Vance. We have a situation at the main gate."
"What is it?"
"Trespassers. A middle-aged woman and a young man in a silver Mercedes. They rammed the front security gate, trying to force their way onto the property. They're out of the car now, screaming at the intercom, throwing things at the cameras."
I sighed. "Beatrice and Caleb."
"They're demanding to see you, ma'am. The woman is highly erratic. She has a tire iron."
I stood up, adjusting my sunglasses. "Did you call the police?"
"Protocol dictates we call local law enforcement immediately upon an attempted breach. They are three minutes away."
"Good."
I walked with the security chief down the long, winding driveway.
Through the massive wrought-iron gates, I could see the wreckage. Beatrice’s leased Mercedes had a smashed front bumper from where she had blindly driven it into the reinforced steel gate.
Beatrice was standing outside, mascara running down her face, screaming wildly, swinging a metal tire iron against the call box.
Caleb was beside her, looking frantic, pulling at her arm. "Mom, stop! Mom, there are cameras!"
"I don't care!" she shrieked, swinging the iron again. "She owes us! She owes us everything!"
She spotted me walking down the driveway.
Her eyes widened with manic fury. She rushed the gate, gripping the iron bars, pressing her face against them.
"Elara! Open this gate right now! Open it!"
I stopped about ten feet away. Safe on my side of the fortress.
"You ruined my life!" she screamed, her voice hoarse. "You planned this! You set us up!"
"I set you up?" I asked softly. "Did I tell you to pour coffee on me? Did I tell Caleb to film it? You ruined yourselves. I just got out of the way and let gravity do the work."
In the distance, the wail of sirens cut through the hills.
Red and blue lights flashed around the corner of the canyon road.
Caleb froze. "Mom... Mom, the cops are here."
"I don't care!" Beatrice yelled, completely detached from reality.
May you like
Three police cruisers screeched to a halt behind their wrecked Mercedes. Six officers stepped out, drawing their tasers and weapons, shouting commands.
"Drop the weapon! Drop the metal bar right now! Put your hands on your head!"
