Chapter 5
Marcus Vance didn't run, but his long strides ate up the distance between the fence and the pavilion with terrifying efficiency. The damp wind caught the hem of his dark trench coat, making it snap like a flag in a gale. Under the gray, overcast sky, the entire park seemed to shrink, trapping the small group under the wooden beams like specimens on a slide.
"Mr. Sterling," Vance called out, his voice smooth, carrying a sharp edge that cut through the whistling wind. "I was hoping I’d catch you before you skipped town with the morning permits."
Arthur stopped dead in his tracks, his grip on Tracey’s hand loosening just enough for the little girl to slip her fingers free and run back toward Leo, who stood frozen by the picnic table. Clara moved instantly, scooping Leo up into her arms and holding him tightly against her chest, shielding his face from the stranger.
"You have no jurisdiction here, Vance," Arthur said, turning around to face the investigator with a stiff, formal posture. "This is a public park. I'm taking my granddaughter home."
"Your granddaughter, yes," Vance replied, coming to a halt ten feet away. He pulled a small leather notebook from his pocket, though he didn't open it. His cold, calculating eyes flicked from Arthur to Clara, and then lingered for a long, uncomfortable moment on the small grey plastic fragment Arthur had just pocketed. "And the boy? Is he part of the family trust now, too? Or is he just collateral damage from the structural failure on Elm Street?"
May you like
Clara felt a hot spike of fury override her fear. "My son has nothing to do with your corporate investigations, Vance. If you step one inch closer—"
"My investigation isn't corporate anymore, Mrs. Hayes," Vance interrupted softly, a thin, humorless smile touching the corners of his mouth. "The police pulled a submerged vehicle out of the municipal reservoir an hour ago. The license plates match the vehicle registered to Arthur’s construction firm. And inside the trunk, they found a stack of unfiled safety reports bearing your signature."
