Outside the iron gates of the Sterling mansion, two marked police cruisers had their red and blue lights flashing against the stone pillars.
Jason sat inside his sports car near the guard booth, yelling frantically into his phone as the gate arm remained down.
Jason: Open the damn gate, Marcus! I pay your salary!
Guard: I'm sorry, Mr. Jason. Mr. Sterling just called down from the main house. Orders are to hold all outgoing vehicles.
Jason: I am a Vice President of Sterling Enterprises! Open this gate right now or you're fired!
Guard: My orders come directly from your father, sir. I can't raise the arm.
Jason slammed his steering wheel with his fist, turning to look in his rearview mirror as two police officers stepped out of their cruisers and approached his driver's side window.
Officer Miller: Sir, turn off the engine and step out of the vehicle please.
Jason: Do you know who I am, Officer? My family built half the commercial buildings in this city!
Officer Miller: I know exactly who you are, Mr. Sterling. Step out of the car right now.
Jason: On what grounds?! This is private property!
Officer Miller: Domestic assault, destruction of property, and grand financial fraud. We have a signed complaint from Clara Sterling and Evelyn Sterling.
Jason: It was a misunderstanding! My sister tripped in the hallway!
Officer Miller: We have the security footage from the library hallway, sir. Mr. Sterling senior just emailed it to our dispatch team.
Jason's face drained of all color. He swallowed hard, his hands trembling as he turned off the ignition and opened the car door.
Jason: My father gave you that video?
Officer Miller: Yes, sir. Turn around and put your hands behind your back.
The officer clicked the cold steel handcuffs around Jason's wrists, pushing him gently toward the back seat of the police cruiser.
Jason: Tell my mother I need her lawyer! Tell her to call Mr. Vance immediately!
Officer Miller: Mrs. Sterling specifically instructed us to inform you that the family legal team will not be representing you today.
Jason: What?! They're leaving me with a public defender?!
Officer Miller: Watch your head, sir.
The officer closed the cruiser door, locking Jason inside the rear compartment as the vehicle turned around and headed down the long driveway toward the county jail.
Up on the front porch of the mansion, Clara and Evelyn stood side-by-side, watching the flashing lights disappear down the road into the morning light.
Evelyn: It's done, Clara. He can't hurt you anymore.
Clara: I never wanted it to end like this, Mom.
Evelyn: Neither did I, my dear. But some people let money poison their souls until there's nothing left worth saving.