Chapter 6 - The Confession
Rebecca smoothed the wrinkles from her expensive designer skirt, entirely unfazed by the dramatic scene unfolding in the parking lot.
She walked over to my father, completely ignoring his devastated expression, and looked directly at Ethan.
"The fun and games are officially over, little boy," Rebecca said, her voice dripping with venomous condescension.
She waved the manila envelope in the air like a weapon.
"I just came from Judge Caldwell's chambers, and I have a signed emergency order."
"Because you ran away and are clearly experiencing a severe mental health crisis, you are being committed to a secure psychiatric facility."
Ethan stepped back, genuine terror flashing across his young face.
"You can't do that," I argued, stepping forward to block her path.
"I am his legal guardian, Claire, I can do whatever I want with him," she sneered.
"And once he is locked safely away in a padded room, you will have absolutely no legal standing to interfere with my business."
My father slowly stood up from the ground, the printed bank statements still clutched tightly in his fist.
"Is this true, Rebecca?" he asked, his voice low and dangerously quiet.
"Did you steal four hundred thousand dollars in my son's name?"
Rebecca rolled her eyes, letting out an exasperated sigh as if she were dealing with a slow child.
"Oh, please, Richard, don't pretend to develop a moral compass now," she mocked him openly.
"Your business has been hemorrhaging money for five years because you are a pathetic, incompetent manager."
"I simply extracted what I was owed for wasting my youth on you and your ungrateful children."
She pointed a perfectly manicured finger directly at my father's chest.
"You signed the guardianship affidavit, Richard."
"You committed perjury to a sitting judge, and if I go down for fraud, I am taking you down with me."
She smiled, convinced she held all the winning cards in this twisted game.
"Now, get in the car, Ethan, before I call the men from the facility to physically drag you away."
Ethan reached into his pocket and slowly pulled out his cell phone.
The screen was brightly illuminated, displaying an active audio recording app that had been running for the past ten minutes.
"Did you get all of that?" Ethan asked loudly, directing his voice toward the microphone.
Rebecca's smug smile vanished instantly, replaced by a look of sheer, panicked horror.
"You little brat, delete that right now!" she shrieked, lunging aggressively toward him with her hands outstretched like claws.
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Before she could reach him, I grabbed her wrist and twisted it sharply, throwing her off balance.
"I think it's time we go inside and speak to a detective," I said, pointing toward the police station doors.
