Chapter 5 - The Anatomy of a Setup
The sirens began in the distance—a high-pitched, warbling choir that cut through the sultry air of Blackwood County.
The lead police officer descended the steps rapidly, flanked by three others. "Hands where we can see them! All of you, stand down!"
Ryan stood frozen on the upper steps, his hands raised, his eyes wide with utter disbelief as Julian slowly reached into his interior coat pocket.
"Don't move!" the second officer yelled, drawing his Taser and aiming the twin red laser dots directly at Julian's chest.
"I am reaching for my credentials, Officer," Julian said calmly, his tone devoid of any excitement or fear. "I am Julian Vance, Special Prosecutor for the State Attorney's Office. And this entire courtyard is a active crime scene."
The lead officer paused, his eyes narrowing as Julian slowly withdrew a leather badge wallet, opening it to display the gold star and state seal. The officer’s posture shifted slightly, though his hand remained near his weapon.
"Mr. Vance," the lead officer said, recognizing the name instantly. "What happened here?"
"A premeditated attempt on my sister's life," Julian stated clearly, his voice echoing off the stone so everyone in the courtyard could hear. "Executed by Clara Mercer, under the direct instruction of Ryan Mercer—her legal husband and business partner."
"That's a lie!" Ryan screamed, taking a step toward the officers, only to be forced back when an officer raised a baton. "She fell! Clara pushed her, but I had nothing to do with it! I was inside the building!"
Julian turned his head slightly, looking over his shoulder at the man in the charcoal suit who was still crouching over Clara’s limp body at the bottom of the stairs.
"The man down there is Arthur Pendelton, head legal counsel for Mercer Financial," Julian continued smoothly, as if reading a formal indictment. "He was holding the transfer paperwork that would have stripped my sister of her estate the moment she was incapacitated. It was a orchestrated hit, Officer."
Down on the landing, Maya’s sobbing grew quieter, her breathing shallow and rapid. "Julian..." she whimpered, her fingers slipping against the dusty stone. "The baby... Julian..."
Julian’s stoic facade cracked for a split second. A look of fierce, protective agony passed over his features as he turned his back on Ryan and hurried down the steps to kneel beside his sister.
He gently placed his coat over her trembling shoulders, taking her ice-cold hand in his large palms.
"I've got you, Maya," Julian whispered softly, his voice trembling for the first time. "The paramedics are thirty seconds away. Hold on. Just hold on to me."
"Ryan..." Maya choked out, her bloodshot eyes staring past Julian’s shoulder toward the man she had married three years ago. "He... he told her... to do it..."
Ryan felt the cold hand of an officer grab his wrist, twisting his arm behind his back with a sharp, painful wrench.
"Ryan Mercer, you are under arrest," the officer rasped, snapping a heavy steel cuff onto his right wrist.
"You're arresting the wrong person!" Ryan yelled, thrashing against the restraint as he was shoved face-first against the cold marble pillar. "Look at what he did to Clara! He threw her down the stairs! Why aren't you arresting him?!"
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Julian didn't even turn around as the second pair of handcuffs clicked into place behind Ryan’s back. He just held his sister's hand, his eyes fixed on the distant red lights of the approaching ambulance.
"Because in this county, Ryan," Julian whispered to the concrete, "we don't arrest the executioner. We arrest the mastermind."
