Chapter 6 - The Ambush at the Recorder's Office
Before Daniel could process the clerk’s words, the heavy side doors leading from the administrative offices swung wide open.
Two uniformed sheriff’s deputies, accompanied by Detective Miller of the county white-collar crime squad and Arthur Vance, strode purposefully across the lobby.
Daniel’s smug grin instantly faltered. He turned around, blinking in confusion as the deputies flanked him on either side.
“Daniel Lawson?” Detective Miller asked, pulling a set of cold steel handcuffs from his belt.
“What? What is this?!” Daniel stammered, stepping backward into the counter. “You must be making a mistake! We’re just filing a standard property transfer!”
“No mistake, Mr. Lawson,” Detective Miller replied, his voice echoing off the marble walls. “You are under arrest for felony forgery, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit property theft, and extortion.”
Patricia shrieked, clutching her designer handbag like a shield. “This is an outrage! Do you know who I am?! My son is an upstanding businessman—this is a private family matter!”
“It stopped being a private family matter the moment you forged my daughter’s signature and plotted to steal her inheritance,” my voice rang out sharp and clear as I stepped out from the shadows beside Arthur Vance.
Daniel’s face drained of all color. He spun around, his eyes locking onto mine with sheer terror as I walked forward, holding my phone up high.
“Rebecca?!” Daniel gasped, his voice cracking. “What are you doing here? How did you—”
“Did you really think I was just going to let you abuse my daughter and steal her home?” I asked, stopping three feet away from him. I tapped my phone screen, and the built-in speaker instantly broadcast a crystal-clear recording across the lobby:
May you like
“Don’t worry, Daniel. By Friday, the house will finally be ours.”
Patricia’s knees buckled. She grabbed onto the edge of the service desk to steady herself, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water as her own voice echoed back at her in front of a dozen witnesses, deputies, and stunned onlookers.
