Chapter 6 - THE BLAZING BOATHOUSE
The wail of the sirens grew louder, tearing through the quiet lakeside night. The guests on the lawn began to murmur, shuffling uncomfortably, pulling out their phones. Wealthy people despise public scandals, and Vanessa’s carefully curated facade was cracking right in front of them.
Daniel’s grip on my wrist was painful. I didn't struggle. I simply looked at his hand, then up at his face.
"You're hurting me, Daniel," I said, my voice completely steady.
He flinched, relaxing his grip just a fraction, but he didn't let go. "Just stay quiet, Mom. Don't make this worse. The cops will take you to the hospital, and Dr. Aris will sign the paperwork. It’s over."
Two squad cars with flashing red and blue lights crunched up the long gravel driveway, parking violently on the grass near the caterer’s tent. Four officers stepped out, hands resting cautiously on their duty belts.
Vanessa immediately rushed forward, playing the terrified, exhausted daughter-in-law to perfection.
"Officers, thank God you're here," she cried, her voice trembling with fake emotion. "My mother-in-law is having a severe dementia episode. She’s threatening guests and stealing things from our bedroom. We have medical power of attorney."
The lead officer, a tall, broad-shouldered man, approached the deck. I recognized him instantly. It was Sergeant Miller, the older brother of the funeral director who had stolen Thomas’s watch.
The corruption in this small town ran deeper than I had realized.
"Mrs. Vance," Sergeant Miller said, his tone devoid of any respect. "I need you to step down from the deck and place your hands behind your back. We're going to take you to County General for an evaluation."
Answer One, Open Two.
Vanessa hadn't just bribed a doctor; she had the local police on her side. But why was Sergeant Miller so eager to assist in a civil dispute?
"I will not put my hands behind my back," I said, standing my ground. "I own this property. My daughter-in-law has forged my signature on a commercial land deed, and she attempted to drug me with Zolpidem tonight. I have the physical evidence in my pocket."
"She’s hallucinating!" Vanessa shouted. "She doesn't own anything! Here, I have the deed!"
Vanessa pulled a folded legal document from her designer clutch and shoved it toward Sergeant Miller. He took it, glancing at it briefly.
"Looks perfectly legal to me," Miller said smoothly, stepping onto the first stair of the deck. "Now come on, Ruth. Don't make me use force."
A massive Reversal hit me. They weren't going to look at my evidence. They were going to throw me in the back of a cruiser, drug me at the hospital, and bulldoze my life.
"You're making a mistake, Sergeant," I said loudly, ensuring Marcus, the lead investor, was listening. "That deed is notarized by a man named Arthur Hayes. Does that name sound familiar, Vanessa? Julian Hayes’ brother?"
Marcus, standing near the bar, suddenly stiffened. He pulled out his phone and started furiously typing. An investor doesn't ignore the word forgery.
"Enough!" Sergeant Miller barked, stepping up to grab my arm.
But before his hand could touch me, a massive, deafening BOOM shook the ground beneath our feet.
The guests screamed, ducking for cover.
I whipped my head around toward the lake.
Bright orange flames were shooting thirty feet into the night sky. The boathouse was on fire.
Thick, black smoke billowed upward, obscuring the stars. The heat was so intense I could feel it on my face from fifty yards away.
Someone had detonated an accelerant inside the wooden structure.
"The documents!" I gasped.
Vanessa stood frozen, her fake tears entirely gone, replaced by genuine shock. She looked at Daniel.
Daniel looked back at her, his face pale as a ghost. He slowly lowered his hand from my wrist.
"I didn't do that," Daniel whispered, his voice shaking with absolute terror. "Vanessa... I swear to God, I didn't do that."
If Vanessa hadn't set the fire, and Daniel hadn't set the fire... who did?
"Get the fire department out here now!" Sergeant Miller yelled into his radio, entirely abandoning me as he ran toward the lake.
I didn't run. I stood on the deck, my hand deep in my coat pocket, my fingers wrapping around the cold silver of Thomas’s bracelet. The boathouse was gone, and with it, the original trust documents.
But as I stared at the flames, a dark figure stepped out from the tree line near the burning structure. The figure stood illuminated by the fire, holding a red metal gas can.
May you like
He turned his head toward the deck, looking directly at me.
It was Dr. Aris.
