Chapter 9 - The Sister’s Defiance
Despite the threat of federal charges, Lauren’s arrogance was not easily broken.
The following evening, believing our grandfather was bluffing, she slipped out of the Oak Hills mansion, took the keys to the Cadillac, and managed to bypass the security lock by hotwiring the ignition (a trick she had learned from one of her sketchy friends).
"They think they can scare us," Lauren hissed to her mother as she backed the luxury car out of the driveway. "Grandpa Arthur would never send his own family to jail. He cares too much about his public image. I'm going to the high-society charity gala tonight, and I'm driving this car."
Helen tried to stop her, but Lauren was driven by a desperate, manic need to maintain her status. She sped down the highway, her music blaring, her face contorted in a triumphant smirk.
But she didn't make it to the gala.
As she crossed the county line, the GPS tracker inside the Cadillac alerted the state police. Two highway patrol cruisers pulled behind her, their sirens wailing, their blue and red lights flashing violently in the dark.
"What is this?" Lauren gasped, her heart stopping.
She pulled over to the side of the road, rolling down the window as the armed officers approached the vehicle with their weapons drawn.
"Step out of the vehicle with your hands on your head!" the lead officer barked. "This vehicle has been reported as stolen!"
"Stolen?" Lauren shrieked, her voice cracking. "This is my car! My grandfather bought it!"
May you like
"The registration is in the name of Vance Manufacturing, ma'am," the officer said, forcing her hands behind her back and clicking the heavy steel handcuffs into place. "And you do not have permission to drive it. You are under arrest for grand theft auto."
As she was led to the back of the police cruiser in her expensive gala dress, Lauren wept, realizing that the grandfather she had dismissed was very, very serious.
