Chapter 4 - Richard’s Arrogant Threat
While Lily was being treated under federal guard, five miles away at the Sinclair estate, Richard was pacing furiously across his ruined living room. The Easter party had completely dissolved into panic, with high-society guests fleeing the property in their luxury cars, terrified of being caught in the crosshairs of a federal raid.
"This is an outrage!" Victoria screamed, throwing a vase against the wall. "How dare that mechanic bring armed thugs into our home! Richard, call your father immediately!"
"I've already called him, Mother!" Richard yelled back, his hands shaking as he poured another three fingers of bourbon. "He’s at a political fundraiser in Washington. He’s reaching out to the Attorney General right now. He said local federal agents must have made an unauthorized jurisdictional error."
The heavy oak doors of the mansion were pushed open, and Sheriff Thomas Brody stepped inside, his uniform slightly rumpled, a cigar unlit in his mouth. Brody had been on the Sinclair family payroll for a decade, handling their minor "indiscretions" and speeding tickets with a wave of his hand.
"Richard," Brody said, wiping sweat from his forehead. "What the hell happened here? I got calls from three state senators saying black helicopters were buzzing over the lake."
"It was Arthur Vance!" Richard spat, pointing a trembling finger at the door. "That old lunatic came in here, assaulted my mother, and kidnapped my wife! I want you to take four cruisers, go to his house, kick his door in, and drag him to county jail in chains!"
Brody chuckled, adjusting his gun belt. "Relax, Richard. Arthur Vance is just a retired grease-monkey living on a pension. I’ll head over there myself, slap the cuffs on him, and have Lily back in this house before dinner. We’ll charge the old man with felony home invasion."
"Make sure he resists, Brody," Victoria added, her eyes flashing with venomous malice. "Teach him a lesson about who runs this county."
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"Consider it done, Mrs. Sinclair," Sheriff Brody smiled, turning back toward his cruiser.
He had no idea that he was walking directly into the mouth of a military buzzsaw.
