Chapter 10 - The Arrival of the Law
For five agonising seconds, the basement was completely silent, save for Julian's desperate, ragged gasps for air beneath Marcus's heavy forearm.
Slowly, deliberately, Marcus lowered his fist. He relaxed his grip on Julian's lapels, allowing the younger man to slide down the concrete wall and collapse into a pathetic, heap on the floor, clutching his broken wrist and gasping for breath.
Marcus turned away from Julian, stepping toward his daughter. He wrapped his arm gently around Clara’s shoulders, pulling her close into his side.
"You're right, baby," Marcus murmured, kissing the top of her head. "He isn't worth it."
From upstairs, the loud, wailing sirens of local law enforcement vehicles echoed down into the estate. Three marked police cruisers and an unmarked black sedan pulled through the open iron gates, their red and blue lights flashing across the manicured lawns and white silk party tents.
Police Chief Thomas, a long-time associate of Marcus, stepped out of the lead cruiser, accompanied by three uniformed officers.
Marcus led Clara and Eleanor up the basement stairs into the main foyer, where Chief Thomas met them.
"Marcus," Thomas said, taking in the scene—the black SUVs outside, the tactical operators securing the perimeter, and the quiet rage still emanating from the former commander. "What happened here?"
Without a word, Eleanor stepped forward, handing Chief Thomas Clara's cracked smartphone along with the thumb drive Marcus had created.
"The video on that phone contains proof of felony domestic assault, battery, and unlawful restraint," Eleanor stated, her voice clear and uncompromising. "My daughter's statement is ready to be taken."
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Thomas accepted the phone, pressing play on the video. As the sickening sound of the leather strap echoed into the high ceilings of the foyer, Thomas's face hardened into a mask of pure professional disgust.
He turned to his officers. "Go down to the basement. Secure the suspect."
