CHAPTER 6: Sins in the Daylight
Thomas’s eyes narrowed sharply as two state trooper cruisers swept through the iron perimeter gates, tires crunching on gravel. He turned an icy glare toward Arthur. "Did you call them?"
"No, sir! I swear on my life!" Arthur stammered, dropping the car keys into the mud.
"I called them," Clara’s voice rang out from the terrace above the garden. She stood on the second-floor stone balcony, phone in hand, with Lily safely behind her inside the hallway. "Before I woke Mr. Sterling, I sent photos of the cellar and the medicine logs to the county sheriff."
Thomas let out a bitter, mocking laugh. "A maid's testimony against a Sterling? Do you think a few photos of an old basement will hold up against our legal team? I own the judges in this district."
Gabriel grabbed his father by the lapels of his tweed coat, forcing him against the stable wall. "You don't own the Department of Justice, Father. Because Eleanor wasn't the only one keeping records. I’ve been running duplicate ledgers on the shipping ports for six months. I just needed to know why you were hiding the manifests."
Gabriel let go, letting Thomas stumble back against his cane. The state troopers stepped out of their vehicles, weapons resting at low-ready, flanked by two plainclothes federal agents who had been monitoring the port discrepancies for months.
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"Thomas Sterling," the lead agent announced, flashing a badge. "We have a warrant for your arrest regarding unlawful detention, conspiracy, and interstate fraud. Step away from the vehicle and place your hands behind your back."
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