Chapter 7 - THE FALSE ACCUSATION
The silence in the room was deafening.
Even Celeste stopped struggling, staring at her father in shock.
"What?" Julian breathed.
Arthur Wynn walked further into the room, his security contractors fanning out, their hands resting menacingly near their holsters.
"You heard me, Julian," Arthur said, his tone conversational, as if they were discussing the weather. "The police have received an anonymous tip, complete with offshore bank records, showing that you paid the mechanic to cut your wife's brakes. You wanted her out of the way to take full control of her trust fund."
"That's a lie!" I shouted, unable to hold back. "Julian loved Rachel! He was devastated!"
Arthur looked at me with cold amusement. "The maid speaks again. Someone should really train your staff better, Julian."
Victor stepped forward, his fists clenched. "You orchestrated this, Arthur. You framed Julian to protect Celeste."
"Victor," Arthur sighed. "You're a grieving brother. Your judgment is clouded. The evidence against Julian is overwhelming. The money trail leads directly to his personal accounts."
I realized what was happening. Celeste hadn't just been stealing money; she had been funneling it through Julian's accounts to create a perfect paper trail. She had been framing him from the very beginning.
The two NYPD officers looked at the envelope Arthur handed them. One of them read the warrant inside.
"Mr. Mercer," the officer said apologetically, pulling out his handcuffs. "I'm going to have to ask you to turn around."
"Dad!" Theo screamed, trying to break free from my grasp.
"Theo, stay with Alma," Julian ordered, his voice remarkably steady.
He looked at Arthur. "You think you can just buy reality?"
"I don't think, Julian. I know," Arthur smiled. "Take him away. And the boy goes with his new legal guardian."
He pointed to Celeste.
"Over my dead body," Victor snarled, stepping in front of Theo and me.
"That can be arranged," Arthur said coldly.
The officers moved toward Julian. He held his hands out, ready to surrender to buy us time.
"Wait."
A voice spoke from the back of the room.
Everyone turned.
It was Omar, the household manager.
He wasn't holding a tray of drinks. He was holding an iPad.
"Mr. Wynn," Omar said, his voice remarkably calm for a man facing down armed mercenaries. "Before the officers take Mr. Mercer, you might want to look at the security feeds."
Arthur frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Omar tapped the screen.
Suddenly, the large smart-TV mounted on the dining room wall clicked to life.
It wasn't showing a movie. It was showing a live feed of the street outside the mansion.
There weren't just two police cruisers anymore.
There were six black SUVs, a dozen federal agents in windbreakers, and news vans from three major networks.
"What is this?" Arthur demanded, his confident facade cracking.
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"That," Victor said softly, a slow smile spreading across his face, "is the FBI."
Victor looked at Julian. "Did you really think I came here with just a forged custody order and a drawing?"
