Chapter 8
The barrel of the gun drifted away from Arthur and locked squarely onto Eleanor’s chest. The backyard fell into an absolute, suffocating vacuum of sound. Even the distant traffic seemed to vanish, leaving only the sound of ragged breathing in the cooling evening air.
"Dad, no!" Clara screamed, lunging forward with a desperate, blind courage, but Arthur caught her by the arm, pulling her back just inches away from the line of fire.
"If I'm going down, Eleanor, you're coming with me," Richard said, his voice trembling with a psychotic, desperate rage. "You ruined my empire. You invited the wolves into the yard."
"Go ahead," Eleanor whispered, stepping closer to the gun barrel instead of backing away. Her grey hair ruffled slightly in the evening breeze. "My life ended the day you walked out that front door forty years ago, Richard. Taking it now won't save you from what’s waiting in that federal penitentiary."
Detective Marcus didn't hesitate. With practiced speed, she unholstered her own service weapon, leveled it at Richard’s shoulder, and fired a single, deafening shot into the air as a final warning.
"Drop the weapon right now, or I will terminate the threat!" Detective Marcus shouted, her voice echoing down the suburban street.
Richard’s hand shook violently. He looked at the gun in his hand, then at Eleanor’s unblinking eyes, and finally down at the crushed two-tier birthday cake sitting in the dirt at his feet. The absurdity of the moment seemed to crash down on him all at once.
With a hollow, defeated sigh, Richard let the silver revolver slip from his fingers. It hit the grass with a dull, heavy thud, burying its barrel in the damp earth right beside a melting candle.
Detective Marcus rushed forward, kicking the gun away and slamming the steel handcuffs onto Richard’s wrists with a sharp click. "You have the right to remain silent..."
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As the federal agent read him his rights, Richard didn't look at the police officer or his daughter. He stared exclusively at Arthur.
"You think this is over, boy?" Richard spat out through clenched teeth as he was pushed toward the front driveway. "Look inside the safe again. There’s something else in there about your father that you aren't ready to see."
