Chapter 4 - The Raid on the Estate
When Michael’s SUV tore up the driveway of the estate, he found three police cruisers and a dark sedan parked outside the front steps.
Two armed officers and a woman in a formal suit holding a folder were standing in the grand foyer, arguing loudly with Arthur and two of Michael’s private guards.
"We have a signed court order from Judge Miller!" the woman, a social worker named Ms. Gable, declared loudly. "Lily Davis is a ward of the Denver Social Services Department! You are harboring a minor unlawfully, Mr. Hartman!"
Standing near the back of the foyer was Julian Vance himself—a tall, hawk-nosed man in a costly trench coat, leaning on a silver-headed cane, a victorious smirk on his face.
"Ah, Michael," Vance chuckled smoothly, tapping his cane against the marble floor. "Always trying to play the savior, aren't you? First you tried to save your wife, and now this stray child. You should stick to mining coal."
"Get out of my house, Vance," Michael snarled, stepping into the foyer, his posture rigid with fury.
"I’m here as a legal guardian representative for the state, Michael," Vance sneered. "The child belongs in state custody until her background is cleared. Where is she?"
From the top of the grand staircase, a tiny voice called out.
"Michael...?"
Everyone looked up. Lily was standing near the top banister, wearing a small white dress Mrs. Gable had brought her, clutching her broken doll, Rosie. Her eyes were wide with terror as she spotted Julian Vance.
"That's him!" Lily cried out, trembling violently. "That's the mean man who took my mom's silver ring! He's the one who hurt my mommy!"
Vance’s smirk faltered for a fraction of a second, his grip tightening on his cane. "The child is delusional, officers. Take her into custody immediately."
One of the police officers stepped toward the stairs, but Michael placed his broad frame directly in the officer's path.
"Touch that stair, and I will have you stripped of your badge by nightfall," Michael warned, his voice low and dangerous. "Ms. Gable, look at that warrant again. Who signed it?"
Ms. Gable blinked, opening her folder. "Judge Arthur Miller."
"Judge Miller was forced to resign three hours ago following an emergency state supreme court review for taking bribes from Apex Holdings," Michael stated calmly as his lead attorney, Eleanor Vance (no relation to Julian), stepped through the front door holding a fresh stack of legal documents.
Eleanor stepped forward, handing a court order to the police officers.
"This is a temporary emergency guardianship order granted to Mr. Michael Hartman by the State Supreme Court," Eleanor announced sharply. "Issued forty minutes ago. Furthermore, we have filed formal charges against Julian Vance for child endangerment, illegal seizure of private property, and corporate fraud."
Vance’s face went pale as ash. "This is preposterous! You have no proof!"
"We have Lily's mother's journal, Vance," Eleanor countered coolly. "We recovered it from your illegal storage facility an hour ago. It details every dollar of extortion you forced on her before she died."
The police officers looked at the new court order, then turned toward Vance, their expressions hardening.
"Mr. Vance," the lead officer said, stepping toward him. "You’re coming with us for questioning."
Vance glared at Michael with pure venom as the officers escorted him out of the mansion in handcuffs.
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As the sirens faded into the distance, Lily ran down the long grand staircase, throwing her tiny arms around Michael’s waist, sobbing with relief. Michael crouched down, wrapping his arms around her, holding her close to his heart.
"You're safe now, Lily," he whispered into her hair. "Nobody is ever going to hurt you again."
