Chapter 4 - The Arrest
I didn't go back to the penthouse.
Sarah booked me a suite at a luxury hotel downtown under her maiden name.
I sat in an oversized armchair, sipping herbal tea, watching the local news on mute.
My phone buzzed. It was Ramirez.
"It's done," his text read.
A minute later, Brooke called.
Against my better judgment, I answered it.
"Claire!" Brooke screamed into the phone, her voice hysterical.
"Where are you? What did you do?"
"I'm resting, Brooke. As my doctor advised," I said calmly.
"The police just dragged Ryan and Dad out in handcuffs!" she sobbed.
"In front of the whole building! The neighbors were recording it!"
"That sounds embarrassing," I replied flatly.
"Maybe Ryan shouldn't have deleted the fake hard drive."
There was a stunned silence on the other end.
"You knew?" Brooke whispered.
"I know everything, Brooke. Even about the money."
I heard a sharp intake of breath.
"What money?" she asked, but her voice trembled just enough to give her away.
"The two point four million they stole to save Grant's pathetic strip mall," I said.
"Did you know about it? Did Diane?"
"No! I swear, Claire, I didn't know!"
"We'll see what the forensic accountants find," I told her.
"Listen to me very carefully, Brooke."
"I'm listening," she whimpered.
"If I find out you or your mother spent a single dime of my money, I'll have you arrested too."
I hung up before she could respond and blocked her number.
Ten minutes later, Sarah walked into my hotel room, looking triumphant.
"They're in lockup," Sarah announced, tossing her coat on the bed.
"Bail hearing is tomorrow morning."
"Will they get out?" I asked.
"Probably," Sarah admitted. "It's their first offense."
"But the judge froze their passports, and they are forbidden from contacting you."
"Good. Did you serve the eviction notice?"
Sarah grinned. "Diane and Brooke have 48 hours to vacate the penthouse."
I rubbed my swollen belly, feeling a fierce protective instinct surge through me.
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They had treated me like an ATM and a doormat.
Now, they were going to learn what happens when the doormat is pulled out from under them.
