General Vance: Take him out to the transport van, Lieutenant. Lock him in the rear cell.
Tactical Guard 1: Yes, General!
The tactical officers shoved Jimmy out through the shattered glass window, dragging him toward a second black military van parked out on the street. A crowd of thirty local townspeople had gathered outside, taking photos and videos on their phones as Jimmy was hauled away in chains.
Customer 1: That's Ronald Miller's kid! He finally got what he deserved!
Customer 2: Good riddance! He's been bullying kids in this town for three years!
Inside the diner, General Vance walked over to his brother-in-law, Thomas, pulling a thick leather checkbook from his pocket.
Thomas: General... you don't need to pay for this. It's my diner.
General Vance: I crashed a five-ton armored vehicle through your front window, Thomas. I'm paying for complete renovations.
General Vance wrote a quick check with his silver fountain pen and handed it over.
Thomas: Two hundred thousand dollars?! Vance, this is way too much!
General Vance: Rebuild the front wall, buy brand-new stainless steel equipment, and hire proper security for the front door. My daughter comes here to relax, not to deal with scum.
Thomas: Thank you, Vance. I promise you, this will never happen again.
Suddenly, a sleek red sports car skidded to a stop right behind the police cruisers outside. A plump, middle-aged man in an expensive grey business suit jumped out, pushing past the police tape.
Ronald Miller: Where is my son?! Where is Jimmy?!
Local Police Officer 1: Stand back, Mr. Miller! This is a military secure zone!
Ronald Miller: Don't tell me to stand back, Davis! I pay your salary! Who put handcuffs on my boy?!
Ronald Miller pushed through the front entrance, marching straight into the ruined diner with his face red with fury.
Ronald Miller: Which one of you military clowns put hands on my son?! I'm calling the state senator right now!
General Vance turned around slowly, towering over the shorter businessman by nearly a foot.
General Vance: You must be Ronald Miller.
Ronald Miller: Damn right I am! And you're gonna pay for every window in this place, pal! Do you know who I am?!
General Vance: You are the father of a convicted bully who just signed away his entire future.
Ronald Miller: Convicted?! He hasn't even seen a judge! My lawyers will have him out of those cuffs in ten minutes!
General Vance smiled—a cold, terrifying smile that sent a shiver down Ronald Miller's spine.
General Vance: Check your phone, Ronald. My legal department filed five federal injunctions against your businesses three minutes ago.
Ronald Miller: What... what are you talking about?
Ronald's phone began ringing frantically in his suit pocket. He pulled it out with shaking hands, seeing his lead corporate accountant's name on the screen.
Ronald Miller: Hello?! What is it, Gary?!
Accountant: Ronald! The Department of Defense just froze all our government repair contracts! The IRS locked our bank accounts! We're completely bankrupt!
Ronald Miller: WHAT?! How is that possible?!
Accountant: They invoked National Security Act section seven! They say our business engaged in financial support of hostile domestic elements! It's over, Ronald!
The phone slipped out of Ronald's hand, crashing onto the broken glass floor below.