Chapter 6 - Turning the Tide
The leverage shifted in a heartbeat. Judge Vance, sensing the sudden financial and legal quicksand, hesitated. He couldn't risk being implicated in a corporate fraud scandal involving the prominent Murphy Trust, regardless of his political alliances with Gertrude.
"The court will take a two-hour recess," Judge Vance announced abruptly, slamming his gavel. "I want the official metropolitan police reports delivered directly to my chambers. And Mr. Harrison, you had better verify the legal status of your retainer before we reconvene."
As we walked out of the courtroom into the bustling hallway, Sarah let out a triumphant breath. "Melinda, that was brilliant. You just cut off her oxygen supply. Without the trust funds readily available, Harrison’s firm is going to hesitate to pull any more illegal stunts."
Before we could celebrate, Detective Fletcher walked briskly down the corridor toward us, his phone pressed to his ear. He hung up as he reached us, his expression grim.
"We found Julian," Fletcher said shortly. "The driver. We picked him up trying to board a private charter flight at a municipal airport twenty miles north."
"Did he have Emma?" I asked, my heart leaping into my throat.
"No, he was alone. But he cracked within ten minutes of interrogation," Fletcher said, a ruthless smile playing on his lips. "He was carrying a briefcase full of cash and a set of flight coordinates. Gertrude didn't go with him because she was waiting for Harrison to secure the custody order today. She’s hiding out in plain sight."
"Where?" Melinda asked.
"The old Murphy estate in the historic district," Fletcher revealed. "The one that’s been listed on the historical registry and supposedly closed for renovations. She figured we’d be watching her penthouse and her country club properties. She’s there now, waiting for the word from Harrison that she has the legal right to take Emma and flee the country."
"Let's go get her," I said, my fists clenching.
"We have a warrant for her arrest for attempted murder and child endangerment," Fletcher said. "My team is moving in now. But because of her stature and the private security she has stationed at the gates, we need to execute this cleanly. Melinda, as the legal owner of that property through the trust anomaly you just brought up, you can give us immediate, uncontested entry to bypass her security team’s legal objections."
"I’ll do more than that," Melinda said, her jaw set with an iron resolve. "I'm going with you. I want to look her in the eyes when she realizes she lost."
We piled into Fletcher's unmarked SUV, the siren wailing silently through the city streets. The afternoon sky was darkening with heavy rain clouds, mirroring the storm that was finally about to break over Gertrude Murphy’s head. As we raced toward the historic district, I called Marcus to ensure Emma was safe.
May you like
"Everything's quiet here, bro," Marcus reported, his voice steady over the line. "Emma’s watching cartoons and eating pancakes. No one’s getting within a mile of her, I promise."
"Keep her safe, Marcus. We're ending this today," I said.
