Chapter 4 - The Title Deed and the Threat
The lobby fell into an absolute, suffocating silence. Even the rhythmic hum of the vending machines down the hall seemed to stop. Mr. Henderson’s mouth opened and closed like a stranded fish, his face shifting from angry crimson to a sickly, chalky gray. He stared at Arthur Vance as if the man had just transformed into a ghost.
"You... you bought the Burnside block?" Henderson whispered, his voice trembling uncontrollably. "That's impossible. That property is tied up in probate court for another six months."
"Probate courts move slowly, Mr. Henderson. Capital moves instantly," Arthur replied smoothly, releasing the landlord's wrist with a flick of his fingers as if brushing off lint. He stood up slowly, dusting off his knees while keeping the smartphone steady, maintaining the live recording angle on Leo and Maya. "And my legal team discovered that your building has twenty-four severe housing code violations, including black mold, illegal utility shutoffs, and systematic tenant extortion."
Leo gently rubbed Maya’s back, feeling the burning heat radiating from her skin. She was shivering despite the warm hospital air. "Please," Leo whispered up at Arthur, his blue eyes wide and desperate. "Can we just see a doctor? We don't care about the building. She's burning up."
Nurse Sarah was already coming around the reception desk, pushing a small medical cart loaded with saline drips and a pediatric thermometer. "I've bypassed the standard triage queue," Sarah said firmly, kneeling beside Maya and gently sliding the thermometer against her forehead. "Her temperature is 103.4. This isn't just hunger, Leo. She has a severe acute infection. We need to admit her right now."
"Admit her on whose dime?" Henderson hissed, finding a pathetic shred of his former bravado as he backed toward the exit doors. "You think the county is going to pay for charity cases? You’re digging your own grave, Vance. That mother of theirs is a junkie; she spent every dime on pills, and these kids are just living in her filth!"
Leo let out an enraged gasp and tried to stand up to charge at the landlord, but Arthur placed a heavy, grounding hand firmly on the boy's shoulder.
"Let the coward talk, Leo," Arthur said quietly, his eyes locked on Henderson. "Every word he speaks is being broadcast live to twelve thousand viewers in this county right now. Let them judge who the real parasite is."
Henderson froze, his hand hovering over the automatic door sensor. He looked up at the security camera mounted in the corner, realizing the red recording light was flashing. With a muttered curse, he spun around and bolted out into the rain, disappearing into the gray afternoon.
May you like
"Sarah, get her inside Trauma Room Four," Arthur commanded, his tone shifting instantly from calm observer to decisive leader. He turned back to Leo, kneeling down so they were eye-to-eye. "Now, Leo. Your mother. Where is she right now?"
---
