Chapter 11 - Sirens in the Driveway
The heavy thud of Marcus and Arthur colliding against the drywall shook the entire second-floor landing, followed immediately by the frantic scuffle of two grown men fighting for control of the room. Arthur swung his elbow hard, catching Marcus in the ribs, but Marcus gritted his teeth and drove his shoulder upward, pinning his brother’s arms against his sides.
"Get off me, you damn fool!" Arthur roared, kicking his legs wildly as he tried to find purchase on the slippery wooden floorboards.
"It's over, Arthur," Marcus panted heavily, his face flushed with exertion as he pressed his weight down onto his brother’s chest. "The game is finished."
Downstairs, the heavy oak front door banged open with a deafening crash, followed by the heavy, measured footsteps of several police officers storming into the entryway.
"Police! Stay where you are! Hands where we can see them!" a booming authoritative voice echoed up the stairwell, carrying an undeniable urgency that filled the entire house.
Evelyn walked slowly to the bedroom doorway, looking down the flight of stairs with an expression of quiet exhaustion. She raised her voice, steady and clear, carrying down to the foyer below.
"We are up here! Master bedroom on the right! The intruder is disarmed!"
Clara stepped out from behind her mother, her heart still hammering against her ribs, and looked down over the banister. Two uniformed police officers with flashlights drawn and tactical vests strapped over their chests were sweeping up the stairs, their boots wet and tracking mud onto the pristine carpet.
"Keep your hands on your head, sir!" the lead officer barked, rushing into the master bedroom with his flashlight beam cutting a blinding white path through the dim air.
Marcus immediately stepped back, raising his hands slowly into the air as the officers swarmed over Arthur, pinning the struggling intruder face-down onto the floorboards and slapping heavy steel handcuffs onto his wrists with a sharp, metallic snap.
Arthur was hauled roughly to his feet, his dark wool trench coat soaked and stained with mud, his hair disheveled as he was escorted past Evelyn and Maya toward the stairs. As he passed Clara, Arthur turned his head, his eyes locking onto hers with a bitter, venomous glare.
"You think this is a victory?" Arthur hissed under his breath as the officer shoved him forward. "Check what’s sewn into the lining of your father's old winter coat in the basement."
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Clara froze, her breath catching in her throat as Arthur was led away down the stairs into the flashing red and blue lights of the rainy night.
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