Chapter 35 - The Power of Pendelton
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Before Arthur could pull open his car door, a long black limousine pulled up right behind his sedan, blocking him completely into the narrow driveway entrance.
Two broad-shouldered men in tailored black suits stepped out of the limousine, followed by an elderly gentleman with silver hair and an aura of immense authority.
Mr. Pendelton had arrived.
Arthur spun around, his eyes narrowing as he recognized the man. "Pendelton. What is the meaning of this ambush?"
Mr. Pendelton walked forward slowly, leaning lightly on an ivory-headed cane. He didn't look angry; he looked unimpressed.
"Arthur," Pendelton said, his voice deep and echoing down the street. "I see you haven't changed. Still picking fights with women half your size."
"This is a private family matter," Arthur snapped. "Stay out of it, Charles."
"It stopped being a private matter the moment you attempted to launder forty million dollars of Evelyn's family trust through my investment firm thirty years ago," Pendelton replied calmly.
Arthur's face paled significantly. "That trust was dissolved legally."
"It was dissolved fraudulently," Pendelton corrected him, pulling a thick leather binder from under his arm. "My legal team spent the last forty-eight hours unearthing the original deeds. You forged Evelyn’s signature while she was hospitalized in 1998."
"That's a lie!" Arthur snarled.
"I have the forensic handwriting analysis right here," Pendelton said smoothly, handing a copy to Chief Higgins, who had stepped out of his cruiser and walked up to the scene. "Chief Higgins, this is a formal complaint of grand larceny, fraud, and corporate extortion."
Higgins took the binder, opening it with a stern expression. "Arthur Vance, you are coming with me to the station for questioning."
"On what grounds?!" Arthur roared, backing away. "This is a civil dispute!"
"On the grounds of an active felony investigation," Higgins replied, unclipping his handcuffs. "Put your hands behind your back."
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As the metal cuffs snapped shut around Arthur's wrists, he glared at Sarah and Evelyn over his shoulder, his eyes burning with pure venom.
"This isn't over!" Arthur shouted as he was forced into the back of the police cruiser. "You hear me, Evelyn? This isn't over!"
