Chapter 17 - The ArrestThe blue and red lights of the state police cruisers illuminated the wet pines of the gravel spit, casting long, pulsing shadows across the cabin’s wooden walls.
There were no private investigators this time. No friendly county judges.
Detective Miller stood on the porch, her navy blazer soaked from the rain, watching as two state troopers lifted Evan Mercer from the floor, his hands cuffed tightly behind his back. The nickel-plated revolver lay in a plastic evidence bag on the hood of a cruiser.
"We have the recording, Colonel," Detective Miller said, turning to Thomas. Her tired eyes had a sudden, deep satisfaction in them. "And we have Helen Mercer’s official deposition. The Commonwealth Attorney is filing charges for attempted malicious wounding, felony domestic assault, and conspiracy to obstruct justice."
"And Arthur Vance?" Thomas asked.
"Federal marshals picked him up at his home in Arlington an hour ago," Miller said with a small, rare smile. "He’s being held on federal racketeering charges. His files have been seized under a search warrant. The Mercer Family Trust is currently frozen."
Thomas looked at Evan, who was being slid into the back seat of a cruiser, his head down, his wet hair plastered to his forehead. He looked small, fragile, and entirely stripped of the shield of his family’s dynasty.
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"Thank you, Detective," Thomas said.
"Don't thank me, sir," Miller said, looking at Claire, who stood on the porch, her arm wrapped around her father's waist. "She’s the one who stood up. Most of them don't. Most of them can't."
