Chapter 9 - The Father's Defiance
Arthur Thorne was a cornered rat, but he was a rat who had spent his entire life bullying his way out of traps. He stood up, smoothing his expensive suit jacket, trying to project authority.
"Everyone, please remain calm," Arthur addressed his guests. "My son is deeply disturbed. He suffered a psychotic break after his wife's death. He's hallucinating."
"Am I?" I pulled the USB drive from my pocket and slammed it onto the dining table. "I have the GPS data from David's truck. I have the toll booth footage. And I have Elena in the garage, ready to testify that you orchestrated a deliberate abandonment to steal Sarah's trust fund."
Arthur's eye twitched, the façade cracking. "You have nothing, you ungrateful parasite. You think anyone is going to believe a deranged drifter over a respected businessman? The police are already on their way to arrest you for trespassing and assault."
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"I don't need them to believe me yet," I said, stepping closer to him, the tire iron hanging loosely at my side. "I just need you to know that the game is over. The trust is locked down. I called my lawyer the second I found out. Your forged documents are being investigated by the FBI as of this morning."
That was a bluff, but Arthur didn't know that. His aristocratic mask finally shattered into an expression of pure, unadulterated rage. He lunged across the table, grabbing a steak knife, and came at me.
