Two uniformed officers stepped through the front entrance, their boots echoing on the white marble floor.
Officer Miller: Mr. Sterling? We received a call about a residential burglary and financial fraud in progress.
Mark: Thank you for coming so quickly, Officer. These two individuals attempted to steal documents and jewelry from our home safe.
Julian: Officer, this is a family misunderstanding! I am the vice president of the Sterling Corporation!
Officer Miller: Sir, please stay where you are while we assess the situation.
Eleanor: Here are the stolen items, Officer. And here is the forged transfer document with my brother-in-law's signature on it.
Officer Miller took the papers from Eleanor and looked them over, nodding slowly as he read the notary line.
Officer Miller: Mr. Julian Sterling, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
Julian: Mark! Tell them to stop! You're going to ruin my life over a loan?!
Mark: It wasn't a loan, Julian. It was grand larceny and child endangerment.
The second officer stepped behind Julian, pulling his arms behind his back and clicking the steel handcuffs into place.
Julian: You're a monster, Mark! I'm your own flesh and blood!
Mark: My family is standing right behind me. You are nothing to me now.
Officer Miller then turned to Clara, who was still sitting on the bottom step, weeping softly.
Officer Miller: Stand up, ma'am. You're coming with us too.
Clara: He promised me fifty thousand dollars! He said nobody would ever find out!
Officer Miller: You can explain all of that to the judge. Hands behind your back.
Clara stood up slowly, letting the officer handcuff her without resistance. She looked over at Lily one last time, her eyes filled with regret and shame.
Clara: I'm sorry... I shouldn't have yelled at the kid.
Eleanor: Save your apologies for your trial.
The officers led both Julian and Clara out the heavy double doors. Julian kept screaming at me until the police cruiser door slammed shut, cutting off his voice completely.
The foyer went dead silent as the flashing lights faded away down the long driveway.
Eleanor let out a long breath, resting her hand against the marble banister to steady herself.
Eleanor: I can't believe your own brother tried to pull something like this.
Mark: Greed makes people do terrible things, Eleanor. But it's over now. They aren't ever coming back into this house.
I dropped back down onto one knee in front of Lily, reaching out to take her small hands in mine.
Mark: Are you okay, Lily-bug?
Lily: Is Uncle Julian going to jail?
Mark: Yes, he is. He did something very wrong, and he has to face the consequences for it.
Lily: I was really scared when Clara yelled at me, Daddy.
Mark: I know, sweetie. But you were so brave today. You helped us find out the truth.
Lily wiped the last of her tears away with her sleeve and offered a small, shy smile.
Lily: Can we go get ice cream now?
Mark: We sure can. Any flavor you want.