Chapter 4 - THE MEN WITH BADGES
The police entered like they already knew who they planned to arrest.
“Hands where we can see them!”
More than twenty officers stormed the foyer.
Ethan raised his hands.
Marcus did the same.
Grace jumped.
Ethan moved instinctively in front of her.
A captain pushed through the officers.
Captain Robert Sloan.
Ethan recognized him immediately.
They had met twice at security conferences.
Sloan never smiled.
Tonight was no different.
“Ethan Cole.”
“Captain.”
“You’re under arrest.”
Grace stared at him.
“What?”
Ethan said, “For what?”
“Breaking and entering. Aggravated assault. Unlawful restraint. Destruction of private property.”
Grace stepped around her father.
“He attacked me!”
Sloan looked at her.
“Miss Cole, we’ll take your statement.”
“No. Listen to me. Logan threatened me.”
Logan suddenly became weak and wounded.
“My head is bleeding.”
Grace stared at him in disbelief.
“You threw me on the floor!”
“I tried to stop you from stealing.”
“You liar!”
Sloan pointed toward Ethan.
“Turn around.”
Marcus said, “Captain, you need to understand what’s happening here.”
“I understand perfectly.”
“No,” Ethan said. “I don’t think you do.”
Sloan’s expression hardened.
“Hands behind your back.”
Ethan obeyed.
Grace grabbed his arm.
“Dad, no!”
“It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not!”
Ethan looked at her.
“Grace. Look at me.”
She did.
“You stay with Dana.”
“They’re arresting you!”
“I know.”
“Why aren’t you fighting this?”
“Because sometimes the man who wants you angry needs you to make a mistake.”
Grace understood.
Barely.
But enough to let go.
As an officer placed cuffs on Ethan, Dana quietly removed the memory card from Grace’s damaged phone and slipped it inside her jacket.
Sloan noticed something.
“What did you just take?”
Dana smiled.
“Lip balm.”
“Empty your pockets.”
“No warrant.”
Sloan took a step toward her.
Marcus moved slightly.
Ten officers immediately aimed weapons.
Ethan spoke.
“Marcus.”
Marcus stopped.
Sloan smiled.
“Smart.”
Ethan studied him.
Then asked one question.
“How much is Raymond Mercer paying you?”
The smile disappeared.
Sloan stepped close.
“You should be careful what you say.”
“I usually am.”
“You’re in serious trouble.”
“So is Raymond.”
Sloan leaned closer.
“You have no idea what you walked into.”
Ethan’s eyes narrowed.
That wasn’t denial.
It was confirmation.
Outside, photographers were already appearing.
Grace looked through the windows.
“How did the press get here this fast?”
Dana whispered, “Because someone called them.”
Ethan was escorted outside.
Camera flashes exploded.
Reporters shouted.
“Mr. Cole! Did you assault Logan Mercer?”
“Is it true your security team invaded the Mercer estate?”
“Were you armed?”
Then Raymond Mercer stepped out of a black Bentley.
Perfect suit.
Silver hair.
Calm smile.
He looked like a concerned father arriving at a terrible scene.
“Logan!”
He hurried toward his son.
Logan embraced him.
Cameras captured everything.
Raymond then looked toward Ethan in handcuffs.
Their eyes met.
Eleven years of history passed between them.
Raymond walked closer.
“I’m sorry it came to this, Ethan.”
Ethan said nothing.
Raymond lowered his voice.
“You should’ve left the past buried.”
Ethan smiled.
Very slightly.
Raymond’s expression changed.
“What?”
Ethan leaned forward just enough.
“You think the phone was the only copy.”
Raymond stopped breathing.
Ethan continued.
“It wasn’t.”
May you like
Then the police pushed Ethan into the back of a squad car.
And for the first time all night, Raymond Mercer looked afraid.
