Chapter 6 - THE CONFESSION IN THE CORRIDORThe emergency hearing was dissolved in less than ninety seconds. Magistrate Halloway practically tripped over his own robes rushing back into his private chambers, leaving Landry, Brooke, and Arthur standing in the middle of the courtroom like actors caught in a play that had gone catastrophically off-script.
I walked slowly toward them, my heels clicking a steady, rhythmic countdown to their destruction.
"Game over, Captain," I said softly, stopping just a foot away from Landry. "Your department's audit isn't starting in five days. It starts right now. And you won't be reviewing it—you'll be testifying in front of a federal grand jury."
Landry sneered, his mask of professional authority finally cracking completely. "You think you've won, Agent Vance? You've only exposed a local precinct. You think the federal government cares about Westbridge? Once I start talking, I drag half the state congressional delegation down with me. Nobody wants that kind of scandal."
"Try me," I said, nodding toward the double doors at the back of the courtroom.
Four federal marshals in full tactical gear stepped through the doorway, their hands resting casually on their sidearms. The heavy metal clanking of their combat boots echoed like thunder.
"Captain Thomas Landry," the lead marshal announced loudly, stepping up beside me. "You are under arrest for conspiracy, deprivation of rights under color of law, and obstruction of justice."
Landry didn't even resist as the cuffs were slapped onto his wrists. He cast one venomous glare in my direction as they hauled him away.
When Landry was gone, the silence in the courtroom felt suffocating.
I turned my attention slowly toward my brother. Arthur was trembling violently, his hands pressed against the edge of the defense table to keep from collapsing.
"Arthur," I said, my voice cold as ice. "You watched our mother get beaten with a bat. You lied to the police. You helped frame her to protect your own skin and your shady real estate deals."
Arthur swallowed hard, tears finally spilling over his eyelids. "Clara... please. They threatened me. Landry said if I didn't back Brooke's story, they would pin the zoning fraud charges on me. I was just trying to protect my family!"
"Your family?" I stepped directly into his personal space, my eyes flashing with absolute fury. "Mom is your family. But you traded her for a comfortable lie."
May you like
Brooke stepped forward, her voice shrill and desperate. "Don't you dare lecture him! You think you're so righteous with your federal badge, but you're just a cold-hearted—"
"Save it for your public defender, Brooke," I cut her off sharply. "Assault with a deadly weapon, filing a false police report, and conspiracy to commit perjury. You'll be wearing real handcuffs by sunrise."
