Chapter 4 - The Arrest Warrant Revealed
The two Denver police officers, who had been standing awkwardly near the coat closet, stepped forward. The lead officer took off his cap and addressed General Vance with utmost deference.
"General, sir... we were dispatched here on a priority 911 call from this address," the officer said, pulling a dispatch slip from his vest pocket. "A woman named Tiffany Hayes called reporting a stolen military identity and an armed trespasser claiming to be active duty. That was why we came with orders to detain the suspect."
General Vance turned his piercing gaze toward Tiffany. "You filed a false police report against an active-duty senior officer while operating under a coordinated scheme to defraud a federally protected trust?"
Tiffany’s legs gave out completely. She collapsed onto the velvet sofa, sobbing hysterically into her hands. "I didn't mean to! Brad told me to do it! Brad said if we got her arrested tonight, she wouldn't be able to contest the notary seal tomorrow morning! It was Brad's idea!"
Brad stared at his fiancée in sheer, unadulterated horror. "Tiffany! What the hell is wrong with you? Don't drag me into your criminal mess!"
"You were the one who brought Sterling to dinner!" she screamed, pointing an accusing finger at him. "You said your father's hedge fund would give us a half-million-dollar bonus if we delivered this corner parcel to Apex! You used me!"
The living room descended into complete chaos. The remaining high-society guests scrambled for the front doors, shoving past each other into the cold night air to reach their cars. Within sixty seconds, the party had vanished, leaving only my broken family, the disgraced attorney, the police, and my military escort.
General Vance nodded to the Denver police officers. "Officers, you have probable cause for attempted wire fraud, conspiracy to commit grand larceny, and filing a false emergency report. Take Mr. Sterling and Mr. Bradley into custody."
"Wait!" Brad screamed as the officers grabbed his arms and forced his hands behind his back. "You can't arrest me! My father is Marcus Cole! He donates to the police commissioner!"
"Tell that to the federal magistrate on Monday morning, kid," the senior officer replied roughly, clicking the steel cuffs tightly around Brad's wrists.
Sterling didn't even fight. He held out his hands in silent defeat, staring at the floor as the officers escorted both men out into the flashing red-and-blue lights of the Denver police cruisers.
May you like
The door shut once more.
Inside the cavernous house, only my parents and Tiffany remained, huddled together like survivors of a shipwreck, staring at the daughter and sister they had discarded like trash.
