Chapter 10 - The Police Interrogation
"Drop the document immediately, child," the lead police officer commanded, his hand resting firmly on the holster of his service weapon. "You are trespassing on condemned municipal property and stealing historical artifacts."
Arthur stepped smoothly in front of Maya, shielding her and the fragile oilcloth parcel from the harsh glare of the police flashlights. "Officer, before you make an arrest you'll deeply regret, I suggest you check your department's active warrant database for Julianna Cross and her corporate associates."
Julianna stepped forward from behind the officers, her expression icy and completely unreadable in the dim light. "Arthur, you are completely delusional. You've dragged a minor child into an illegal breaking-and-entering scheme, and you expect the local police to believe your fabricated corporate conspiracy theories?"
"It's not a conspiracy theory when it's broadcasting live to forty thousand people," a clear, steady voice spoke up from behind the officers.
The police officer spun around in surprise. Stepping out of the utility tunnel behind them was a young man holding a professional broadcast camera mounted on a stabilizing rig, wearing a press badge issued by the state's largest independent news network.
"I'm Marcus Vance, investigative journalist," the young man announced, holding up his press credentials into the light. "My brother Arthur called me the moment Julianna's security team locked down the alleyway. Every single word spoken in this room tonight has been recorded and transmitted in real-time to the state attorney general's office."
Julianna's confident demeanor faltered for a fraction of a second, her eyes darting nervously toward the journalist's camera lens. "This is a private civil matter regarding commercial zoning disputes. The state attorney general has no jurisdiction over municipal real estate development."
"Extortion, falsification of public records, and wrongful eviction of citizens under false pretenses cross straight out of civil court and directly into criminal felonies, Julianna," Arthur said coldly, stepping around the police officers to hand Maya's phone back to her safely.
The lead police officer looked back and forth between Julianna and the brothers Vance, visibly sweating under the immense political and digital pressure. He slowly removed his hand from his holster. "Look... I'm just here on a dispatch call for suspicious activity. If there's an ongoing state investigation—"
"There is," Marcus interrupted firmly, tapping his broadcast unit. "And the attorney general's tactical unit is currently securing the main corporate offices downtown as we speak."
Maya clutched the oilcloth-wrapped deed tightly against her chest, her big brown eyes looking up at the officer with unwavering strength. "We didn't steal anything, officer. We just came to give this brave woman back her home."
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Before the officer could respond, a sudden, violent rumble shook the subterranean foundation beneath their feet, sending a cascade of dust and debris raining down from the low concrete ceiling.
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