Chapter 13
The sudden flash of light down in the cellar did not go unnoticed. Above them, heavy footsteps sounded on the hardwood floors of the kitchen, followed by the sharp, angry rattle of the basement door being unlocked from the top of the stairs. Evelyn’s voice rang out, shrill and furious, echoing down the concrete shaft. Who is down there? What are you doing in my house? Before anyone could react, the door swung wide open, and Evelyn appeared at the top of the stairs, her face pale with shock and rage as she looked down to see Marcus, Sarah, Leo, and the massive dog standing illuminated by work lights around the open safe.
You, Evelyn hissed, her eyes locking onto Leo with pure venom. You ungrateful little stray. You think you can break into my home and steal from me? She took a step down the stairs, her expression twisting into a mask of desperation. Marcus stepped in front of Leo protectively, holding up the open safe door as evidence. It’s not her house, Evelyn, Marcus said in a deep, booming voice that echoed off the stone walls. The game is over. We have the original will, the asset ledgers, and Sarah here has documented every piece of forged paperwork you submitted to the county court.
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Sarah stepped forward calmly, holding her briefcase and flashing official credentials. Mrs. Vance, I am Attorney Sarah Jenkins representing the legal estate of Arthur Vance. You are currently trespassing on federal inheritance fraud charges, and every document you filed in probate court has been flagged as counterfeit. I strongly suggest you do not attempt to flee or destroy further evidence, as local law enforcement has already been notified and is currently turning into your driveway. As if on cue, the distant wail of a police siren echoed through the crisp morning air, growing louder by the second.
Evelyn froze on the stairs, the color draining entirely from her face as the harsh reality of her impending arrest crashed down around her. She looked from Marcus to Sarah, and finally down at Leo, who stood tall beside Buster, no longer shivering, no longer afraid. The cold intimidation she had wielded for months evaporated in an instant, replaced by the bitter realization that her greed had utterly destroyed her. She turned abruptly on her heel, attempting to retreat back up the stairs, but two uniformed county deputies were already stepping through the open kitchen door, blocking her only escape route.
