Chapter 7
The precinct interview room smelled faintly of old coffee and commercial disinfectant, a stark contrast to the luxurious mahogany and velvet of the Vance estate. Arthur sat upright at the metal table, his jaw clenched as he watched two detectives review the documents he had placed before them. Clara sat beside him in a plastic chair, wrapped in a blanket provided by a sympathetic female officer who had noticed her lingering distress. Eleanor sat across the room on a padded bench, flanked by her family lawyer—a sharp-suited man named Harrison who exuded arrogant confidence. Harrison spoke first, asserting that his client wished to press full charges of burglary and grand larceny against both Arthur and Clara. The lead detective, a weathered man named Miller, looked up from the transfer orders with a deeply skeptical expression. Detective Miller asked Harrison how someone could burglarize a safe they legally co-owned access to through inheritance rights. Harrison adjusted his tie smoothly, claiming that Arthur had been disowned from the family trust years prior, rendering any claim to estate documents completely void. Arthur leaned forward, his voice steady and controlled as he pointed directly at the signatures on the foundational patents. He explained to Detective Miller that these papers did not represent family heirlooms, but rather stolen intellectual property tied to a federal fraud investigation from the late nineties. Eleanor shifted uncomfortably on her bench, her sharp eyes narrowing as she realized Arthur was fully prepared to burn the entire family legacy to the ground. Harrison tried to interrupt, citing jurisdictional issues and claiming the documents were forged or obtained under questionable pretenses. Detective Miller held up a hand to silence the lawyer, recognizing the historical weight of the corporate letterheads resting on the metal table. He announced that the police department would impound the documents for forensic verification before deciding whether to file formal charges against anyone. Eleanor stood up abruptly, her face flushed with suppressed fury as she glared at her grandson with absolute venom. She hissed that Arthur had destroyed any remaining chance of reconciliation, effectively cutting himself off from the family forever. Arthur met her gaze without blinking, stating clearly that being cut off from a legacy built on theft and cruelty was the greatest gift she could have ever given him. Harrison quickly guided the trembling matriarch toward the exit, knowing the legal ground beneath their feet was rapidly eroding. As the heavy metal door clicked shut behind them, Detective Miller offered Arthur a sympathetic nod and advised them to secure legal representation immediately.
