Chapter 2 - The Fall of the Façade
Julian’s jaw dropped. He looked out the front window and stumbled back two steps.
Parked in his driveway were four state police cruisers, an emergency medical service van, and an unmarked black SUV belonging to the State Attorney General’s Criminal Investigation Division.
Before Julian could move toward the entry, the heavy front door swung open.
Leading the entry was Lead Detective Marcus Vance—no relation to me, but one of the most ruthless senior investigators in the state’s Elder Abuse Unit—flanked by four uniformed state troopers with their hands resting on their sidearms.
"Julian Collins? Chloe Collins?" Detective Vance’s voice boomed through the house, deep, authoritative, and terrifyingly cold.
"What... what is the meaning of this?!" Chloe shrieked, backing away toward the kitchen. "This is private property! You can't just barge in here! We haven't done anything wrong!"
Detective Vance didn't even look at her. He pulled a thick, stamped legal document from his tactical jacket and slapped it onto the coffee table right in front of Julian.
"This is an emergency Search Warrant signed by Judge Arthur Thorne," Vance announced sharply. "Along with an Order of Immediate Custodial Protective Removal for Mrs. Evelyn Collins. Step away from the victim."
Two paramedics rushed past the police line, moving gently toward my mother. They knelt beside her, speaking in soft, reassuring tones as they began a preliminary medical evaluation.
"Victim?!" Julian stammered, his face pale as paper, sweat suddenly glistening on his forehead. "There's been a mistake! My sister is crazy! She’s trying to steal our mother's estate! I have legal power of attorney!"
"Your power of attorney was suspended fifteen minutes ago by judicial decree, Mr. Collins," Detective Vance said smoothly, stepping directly into Julian's personal space. "Furthermore, you and your wife are named as primary suspects in an active felony investigation involving aggravated elder abuse, unlawful restraint, grand larceny, and financial fraud."
"Fraud?!" Chloe screamed, her voice reaching a high-pitched frenzy. "We cared for that ungrateful old woman! We gave up our lives for her! She's demented! She makes things up!"
"Does she make up rope burns on her wrists, Mrs. Collins?" Detective Vance snapped, turning his gaze toward her. "Because our forensic team is outside right now with a warrant to process the master bedroom, the bedframe, and every piece of rope in this house."
Chloe gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. She looked at Julian, her eyes wild with panic.
"Julian!" she cried out. "Tell them! Tell them it was your idea! You said we needed the money for the investment debts!"
"Shut up, Chloe!" Julian yelled, turning on his wife in a flash of blind rage. "Shut your mouth!"
"Oh, now you're telling me to shut up?!" Chloe screamed, turning on him like a cornered animal. "You're the one who dragged me into this! You told me your mother was going to leave everything to Elena anyway! You were the one who tied her to the bed when she tried to call her lawyer!"
The four state troopers didn't hesitate.
"Julian Collins, Chloe Collins, you are under arrest," Detective Vance said calmly.
Within seconds, the metallic clink of handcuffs echoed through the living room. Two troopers pinned Julian’s arms behind his back, while another two slapped cuffs onto Chloe's manicured wrists.
"Get your hands off me!" Chloe shrieked, squirming against the officer's grip. "Do you know who my father is?! I will sue every single one of you!"
"Save it for your arraignment, ma'am," the trooper growled, hauling her toward the door.
Julian looked back over his shoulder as he was being led out in chains. His eyes landed on me, his face contorted with a mix of shock, hatred, and pathetic desperation.
"Elena... please!" Julian whimpered, his voice cracking into a sob. "I'm your brother! You can't do this to me! Talk to them! Tell them we can work this out!"
I walked over to my mother, gently placing my arm around her shivering shoulders as the paramedics prepared to escort her out to the waiting ambulance for a full hospital examination.
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I looked Julian dead in the eye.
"You stopped being my brother the second you put a rope around our mother's wrists," I said, my voice devoid of any emotion. "Enjoy your night in county jail, Julian. Tomorrow morning, the real work begins."
