Chapter 6 - THE TRAP AT THE ACADEMY
The snowfall had stopped, leaving Columbus wrapped in a crisp, blinding white blanket of ice.
At St. Vincent Private Academy—one of the most prestigious prep schools in Ohio, where I had recently enrolled Sophie—the afternoon bell rang, signalling the end of classes. Students wrapped in heavy navy blazers and winter coats filed out through the iron gates toward waiting cars.
Sophie walked out holding her textbook folder, chatting softly with two new classmates. She looked happy. For the first time in years, the shadow of her stepmother’s family was no longer hanging over her head.
As she stepped near the sidewalk, a dark black sedan pulled up sharply to the curb.
The rear door opened, and Bradley Collins stepped out, wearing a heavy leather jacket. He put on a fake, warm smile and waved at her.
“Hey, Sophie!” Bradley called out, taking quick steps toward her. “Sophie, wait up! It’s Uncle Bradley!”
Sophie froze. The smile vanished from her face instantly, replaced by a cold knot of fear. She stepped back, putting her backpack between herself and Bradley.
“Don't come near me,” Sophie said firmly, her voice trembling slightly. “My dad told me not to talk to any of you.”
“Woah, woah, take it easy, kiddo,” Bradley said, holding his hands up in a placating gesture, though his eyes were frantic and desperate. “Look, there’s no need to be scared. It’s all just a big misunderstanding between your dad and our family. Your grandpa and I just want to talk. We brought you some hot chocolate. Come sit in the car for five minutes. We just want to give you a letter to give to your dad.”
He reached out, grabbing her arm gently to guide her toward the sedan.
“Let go of me!” Sophie shouted, twisting her arm away. “I said don't touch me!”
From inside the sedan, Martin Collins leaned out of the window, his face contorted in anger. “Sophie! Stop being dramatic! Get in the car right now! You owe this family an apology for what you did on Christmas Eve! If you hadn't thrown a tantrum, none of this would be happening!”
Sophie backed away rapidly, bumping right into a tall figure standing behind her.
She looked up, expecting another attacker, but instead, she saw a broad-shouldered man in a dark tactical suit with an earpiece.
It was Thomas—the head of my private security detail that I had assigned to discreetly protect Sophie twenty-four hours a day ever since the firing.
“Is there a problem here, Miss Whitaker?” Thomas asked calmly, stepping smoothly between Sophie and Bradley.
Bradley scoffed, trying to look intimidating. “Back off, rent-a-cop. This is a family matter. Get out of the way.”
Thomas didn't argue. He didn't yell.
He simply reached into his tactical vest, pulled out a heavy black stun baton, and clicked the safety switch. High-voltage electrical sparks arced across the tip with a terrifying CRACKLE-CRACKLE!
Bradley jumped back two feet, his face turning pale.
“Attempted abduction of a minor on private school grounds,” Thomas said, his voice completely devoid of emotion. “My chest camera has recorded this entire interaction, including your physical contact with Miss Whitaker. Local law enforcement has already been dispatched. You have ten seconds to leave before I immobilize you.”
Martin’s eyes went wide in pure horror. “Bradley! Get in the car! Get in the car now!”
Bradley didn't hesitate. He scrambled back into the passenger seat, slammed the door, and the sedan sped off, tires screeching against the icy asphalt, spraying slush everywhere.
Thomas turned to Sophie, instantly deactivating the stun baton and offering her a warm, professional smile.
“Are you unhurt, Miss Whitaker?”
Sophie took a deep breath, clutching her textbooks to her chest. She looked at the speeding sedan disappearing down the street, then looked up at Thomas.
“I’m okay, Thomas,” she said quietly. “Can you call my dad?”
“Your father is already on his way, miss,” Thomas replied, opening the door to a heavy armored SUV parked across the street. “And I believe this was the final mistake Mr. Collins needed to make.”
Ten minutes later, I arrived at the scene, accompanied by Marcus Vance and two plainclothes detectives from the Columbus Police Department.
I pulled Sophie into a tight hug the moment I got out of the car.
“Are you okay, sweetheart?” I asked, examining her face and arms to make sure she wasn't touched.
“I’m fine, Dad,” Sophie assured me, hugging me back tightly. “Thomas was right there. They didn't hurt me. They were just... desperate. They looked pathetic.”
I looked over at Thomas, who handed a encrypted memory flash drive to Detective Reynolds of the Special Investigations Bureau.
“The high-definition video feed clearly captures Bradley Collins physically grabbing the minor’s arm while Martin Collins attempted to coerce her into the vehicle,” Thomas reported formally. “We have full audio, facial recognition confirmation, and the vehicle's license plate.”
Detective Reynolds reviewed the video footage on his portable tablet. His face darkened as he watched Bradley grab Sophie’s coat and heard Martin screaming at her from the window.
“This is an attempted felony coercion and harassment of a minor,” Detective Reynolds said, shutting off the tablet. “Combined with the pending grand larceny indictments from the State Financial Crimes Bureau, we have more than enough grounds for immediate arrest warrants without bail.”
I looked at Marcus Vance.
“Marcus,” I said, my voice dangerously calm. “I don't want to wait for the civil trial anymore. Execute the full corporate liquidation of all Collins assets tied to the fraudulent contracts. File an immediate emergency restraining order, and notify the press about the arrest warrants.”
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Marcus smiled, pulling out his smartphone. “Consider it done, Daniel. By tonight, Martin and Bradley Collins won't have a stone left to hide under.”
I looked down at Sophie and squeezed her shoulder. “Come on, sweetheart. Let's go home. The trash is finally being picked up.”
