Chapter 6 - The Trap Snaps Shut
Ethan’s smile faltered. "What are you talking about, Elena?"
Before he could get an answer, the front door crashed open with a deafening bang.
"State Police! Financial Crimes Division! Nobody move!"
Four uniformed police officers pushed into the foyer, followed by Detective Miller and two plainclothes investigators carrying cameras and evidence bags.
Diane shrieked, dropping her champagne glass onto the hardwood floor, where it shattered into a hundred sparkling pieces. Cole jumped up from the sofa, his face going pale, while Ava screamed from the hallway.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Ethan yelled, stepping in front of Marcus. "This is private property! Get out of my house!"
Detective Miller stepped forward, pulling a gold badge and a signed search-and-arrest warrant from his coat. "Ethan Vance, Diane Vance, and Marcus Vance. You are under arrest for federal mortgage fraud, criminal conspiracy, grand larceny, and felony identity theft."
"What?!" Diane shrieked, her voice reaching a high-pitched panic. "This is a mistake! My son owns this house!"
"Actually, ma'am, he doesn't," Sarah Lin, my attorney, stepped into the room behind the officers, holding a pristine blueprint and legal deed registry. "This property is registered under the sole name of Elena Vance and her mother, Martha Vance. Ethan Vance’s name was added to a draft contract three months ago, but was never registered with the county clerk because your down payment checks bounced."
Ethan turned to look at me, his eyes wide with horror and confusion. "What? Elena... what is she talking about?!"
I walked over to Marcus's open briefcase, grabbed the document they had just signed five seconds ago, and handed it directly to Detective Miller.
"Here is the finalized loan application, Detective," I said clearly. "Carrying a forged signature of my name, notarized illegally by Marcus Vance, and signed by Ethan and Diane Vance to steal $150,000 from my property."
Marcus immediately threw his hands in the air. "I was just doing what Ethan asked me to do! He paid me five grand to fake her signature!"
"Marcus, shut up!" Ethan roared, lunging toward his uncle, but two police officers grabbed Ethan’s arms, slamming him face-down onto the dining table.
"Get your hands off my son!" Diane screamed, lunging at the officers. An officer caught her hands and pulled them behind her back, snapping a pair of cold steel handcuffs around her wrists.
"Mom!" Ava sobbed from the stairs. "What’s happening?!"
"Elena!" Ethan thrashed against the table, his face red and sweating as the cuffs clicked around his wrists. "Elena, tell them to stop! We’re getting married in two months! You can't do this to me!"
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I walked up to Ethan, standing right beside his pinned head. I looked down at him with utter disdain.
"The wedding is canceled, Ethan," I whispered. "And you have five minutes to get your family out of my house before I press trespassing charges on Cole and Ava too."
