Chapter 13 - Arthur’s Desperate Play
The peace didn't last indefinitely. Two weeks after the audit, my phone buzzed during a late-night coding session at my apartment. It was an unrecognized mobile number, but the voicemail notification popped up instantly.
I hit play.
“Daniel? Dan, please pick up.” My father’s voice sounded hollow, ragged, and cracked with genuine desperation. “I know you’re screening my calls. I know what your grandmother told the prosecutors. But you have to talk some sense into her. They’re freezing my corporate accounts, my personal credit cards are declined, and Linda locked me out of our apartment. I have nothing left. If she doesn’t drop the criminal complaint, I’m facing five years in federal prison.”
He paused, a choked sob breaking through his bravado.
“I’m your father, Dan. Remind her of that. Family doesn't throw family to the wolves.”
I stared at the glowing screen, feeling a cold numbness wash over me. There was no anger left—just a profound, hollow disappointment.
I didn't call him back. Instead, I forwarded the audio file directly to Sergeant Miller at the police department and sent a short text to Grandma.
May you like
“He’s starting to crack.”
Grandma’s reply came back three minutes later: “Let him. Winter is when the ice breaks.”
