Chapter 6 - The Arrest at the Gates
A Fall From GraceThe news spread through Savannah and Hilton Head like wildfire.
By noon on Saturday, local news cameras were stationed right outside the gated perimeter of the Winslow family estate. The story of a wealthy bride pushing her crippled sister off an eleven-foot venue balcony hours before her high-society wedding—only for her wealthy fiancé to call the police and post the video online—was the top trending topic across the entire state.
From my hospital bed, Evan and I watched the live television broadcast on the wall-mounted monitor.
[BREAKING NEWS: Historic Savannah Wedding Turned Criminal Investigation - Socialite Taryn Winslow Taken Into Custody]
The footage showed three squad cars parked in front of my parents' Mediterranean-style mansion.
Taryn was led out down the front steps in handcuffs, wearing full makeup and a designer tracksuit, her hands behind her back. She kept trying to pull her hood over her face to hide from the blinding flashes of news cameras, screaming threats at the arresting officers.
Behind her, my father was arguing aggressively with a detective, waving his arms until an officer pushed him back against the hood of a patrol vehicle and placed him under arrest as well—charged with obstruction of justice and financial fraud.
My mother stood on the front porch, clutching her mink wrap, sobbing hysterically as her pristine social standing dissolved in front of millions of viewers.
"It's really happening," I whispered, holding my hand over my mouth.
"It's only the beginning," Evan said, leaning against the bed frame. "My family’s corporate litigation attorneys spent the morning freezing every bank account connected to Winslow Heritage Holdings. When the bank audited the fraudulent loans, they discovered that your father had used your personal Social Security number to guarantee two of the $100,000 notes."
I gasped. "He stole my identity?!"
"He used a power of attorney document he forged while you were in the ICU after your car accident two months ago," Evan revealed, dropping another set of legal affidavits onto my tray table. "He wasn't just planning to bankrupt your company, Audrey. He was setting you up to take the criminal fall for the loan defaults if the scheme ever blew up."
A profound, sickening coldness settled deep in my chest.
They hadn't just mistreated me or favored Taryn. They had viewed me as a human piggy bank and a financial human shield. If I ended up in prison or paralyzed in a bed, they could play the grieving parents while walking away with hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen cash.
"I want them to pay for every single cent," I said, my voice dropping an octave into a calm, dangerous stillness. "I want my money back. I want my company cleared. And I want Taryn to face a judge."
"She’s facing the judge on Monday morning for her bail hearing," Evan said. "And Detective Marcus asked if you’re strong enough to deliver a victim impact statement via video link from the hospital room."
"I won't do it via video link," I declared, looking Dr. Vance dead in the eye as he walked back into the room to check my vitals.
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Dr. Vance paused. "Audrey, you had major spinal surgery eight hours ago. You can't stand."
"Then put me in a wheelchair," I insisted, my eyes burning with fierce resolve. "I am going to look my sister and my father in the eyes in that courtroom."
