Chapter 8 - The Confrontation
At exactly 4:30 PM, Callie called Joel.
"I have the documents," she said, her voice shaking realistically. "But I won't meet you at your office. I'm too scared. Meet me at the old St. Jude’s courtyard. If you want the box, you meet me there. Otherwise, I’ll burn everything right now."
"Fine," Joel snapped. "Don't do anything stupid, Callie. We’re on our way."
The rain had stopped, leaving the courtyard of St. Jude’s cold, misty, and dark. The ruins of the church loomed in the background like silent witnesses.
At 5:00 PM, Joel’s SUV pulled up. Joel and Dakota stepped out, their faces triumphant.
"Smart choice," Joel said, walking toward Callie, who stood near the broken statue of the Virgin Mary. "Hand them over."
Callie held a thick manila envelope close to her chest. "Why did you do it, Uncle Joel? She is your mother. She raised you. How could you drug her? How could you burn down her church just for land?"
Joel sneered, taking another step closer. "Don't get self-righteous with me, Callie. My father left everything to her, and she was going to give it all to you. A useless baker! I built a business. I deserved that land. And the church? It was an eyesore. It was worth more as commercial real estate. She was losing her mind anyway; we just... helped the process along to secure our future."
"So you admit you forged her signature?" Callie asked.
"Of course I did!" Joel snapped, losing his patience. "Who was going to stop me? The old lady who can't even remember what day of the week it is? The corrupt judge in my pocket? Now give me the envelope before I take it from you by force."
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Mr. Vance," a voice boomed from the shadows.
Suddenly, the headlights of three unmarked black vehicles flickered on, illuminating the courtyard. A dozen armed federal agents stepped out, led by a sharp-looking woman in a tactical vest.
Arthur Vance walked out from behind the statue, holding a digital recording device.
"Federal agents!" the lead officer shouted. "Step away from the victim!"
Joel’s face drained of color. Dakota screamed, turning to run back to the SUV, only to find two state troopers blocking her path, handcuffs ready.
"You..." Joel gasped, looking at Callie, then at Arthur. "This is a setup!"
"Your reign of terror is over, Joel," Arthur said coldly. "We have your confession on federal wiretap, we have the original, unforged deeds, and we have the medical reports showing the toxic levels of unauthorized sedatives you forced into your mother’s system. You are going to prison for a very, very long time."
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As the handcuffs clicked around Joel's wrists, he looked at Callie with pure, unadulterated hatred. But Callie didn't look at him with anger. She looked at him with pity.
"You thought she was a problem," Callie said softly, watching them lead her aunt and uncle away. "But she was always the cure."
