Chapter 7 - The Arrests
The hammer finally dropped on a gloomy Tuesday morning.
The District Attorney had finished reviewing the forensic accounting and the audio files. They didn't just have enough for embezzlement; they had enough for a RICO charge due to the complex web of shell companies Chloe had set up across state lines.
And, thanks to the medical records I had saved detailing Margaret's bruises, they slapped on a charge for felony elder abuse.
Four police cruisers pulled up to Marcus and Chloe’s estate at 6:30 AM.
I was there, waiting down the street in my car with Margaret. We weren't there to gloat. We were there for the children.
The police knocked on the door. When Marcus answered, they didn't hesitate. They slapped handcuffs on him immediately. Chloe was dragged out a few minutes later, screaming obscenities at the officers, her makeup smeared down her face.
Child Protective Services was on the scene. As the social worker led a crying Lily and Noah out of the house, Margaret and I stepped out of our car.
Margaret ran to them, dropping to her knees on the driveway and wrapping her arms around her grandchildren.
“It’s okay, my darlings,” Margaret wept, holding them tight. “Nana is here. Nana’s got you.”
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The social worker had already coordinated with our lawyers. Since the parents were being remanded into federal custody, Margaret and I were granted emergency foster placement.
As the police car drove past us, Marcus looked out the window. He saw his mother—the woman he had planned to lock away—shielding his children from the nightmare he had created. He lowered his head and began to weep.
