Chapter 10 - The Iron Poker
The heavy iron fireplace poker whistled through the damp air of the basement before connecting solidly with the back of Marcus’s shoulder. Marcus grunted in pain, stumbling forward and dropping the sledgehammer with a deafening crash against the concrete floor. He spun around wildly, his eyes wide with shock as he locked eyes with the person standing behind him.
It wasn't Sarah. It was Detective Vance, dressed in a plain grey trench coat, his badge gleaming faintly in the dim light of the emergency flashlight Marcus had dropped earlier.
“Drop the weapon, Marcus. You’re under arrest for the kidnapping of Sarah Vance and the suspected homicide of Thomas and Martha Vance,” Detective Vance commanded, his service weapon drawn and pointed squarely at Marcus’s chest.
Marcus froze, his tall frame trembling with a mixture of rage and overwhelming defeat. He looked from the detective to Elena, who stood shielding Maya behind her in the shadows. A bitter, sarcastic smile twisted the corners of Marcus’s mouth.
“You’re too late, Detective,” Marcus muttered, his voice dropping into a low, mocking register. “The wire transfers cleared an hour ago. The properties are already sold. Even if you take me in, that money is sitting in an offshore account you’ll never touch.”
Detective Vance stepped closer, kicking the heavy sledgehammer away from Marcus’s reach with the toe of his shoe.
“We froze your primary accounts the moment Sarah walked into my precinct this morning, Marcus. The offshore transfer was flagged by federal authorities twenty minutes ago,” the detective said smoothly, clicking the silver handcuffs into place around Marcus’s wrists.
Elena let out a long, ragged breath, sliding down the metal shelving unit as the adrenaline finally drained from her body, leaving her weak and shaking. Sarah rushed over, kneeling beside her sister and wrapping her arms around her tightly.
“It’s over, El. We’re safe now,” Sarah whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of Elena’s head.
Maya stepped out from behind the shelving unit, holding up the black ledger she had found earlier. She walked right up to Detective Vance, holding the book out to him with absolute solemnity.
“You need this too, mister. It has all the secret numbers where Daddy hid Mommy’s real estate papers,” Maya said, her young voice cutting through the heavy silence of the vault.
Detective Vance smiled kindly, taking the ledger from her small hands and sliding it into his coat pocket.
“Good job, young lady. You’re quite the detective yourself,” Vance praised, turning his attention back to Marcus as he hauled the handcuffed man toward the newly broken hole in the wall.
Marcus glared daggers at Elena as he was led away, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper as he passed her.
“You think you’ve won, Elena? Check the master bedroom safe before you celebrate anything else.”
May you like
Elena frowned, watching as Marcus was escorted up the stairs by the detective, leaving her and Sarah alone in the dark vault.
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