Chapter 2 - The Trap Snaps Shut
The flash of the police photographer’s camera momentarily blinded Audrey in the dimness of her foyer.
Officer Miller, a seasoned Columbus patrol officer with salt-and-pepper hair, adjusted his duty belt as he took notes. Beside him, Officer Diaz, a younger female officer, held an ice pack against Audrey’s swollen cheekbone.
"Ma'am, I’ve reviewed the footage from your home system," Officer Miller said, his tone tight with controlled disgust. "In twenty-two years on this force, I’ve rarely seen a clearer case of felony aggravated assault coupled with grand theft auto and extortion. Your father literally announced his criminal intent directly into a high-gain microphone."
"He believes he owns me," Audrey answered evenly, sitting on the bottom step of the staircase. "He has believed that since I was sixteen years old."
"Well, the State of Ohio disagrees," Miller said. "We’ve entered the Mercedes-Benz into the national NCIC database as stolen. An emergency felony warrant has been issued for Ethan Vance for grand theft auto. A separate warrant is being processed right now through Franklin County Municipal Court for Richard Vance for aggravated assault and coercion."
"What about the protective order?" Audrey asked.
"Your attorney, Mr. Vance, already filed an expedited emergency ex parte temporary protection order electronically with Judge Harrison," Officer Diaz added, handing Audrey a blue carbon slip. "It’s signed. If your father, mother, brother, or sister sets foot within five hundred feet of you, this house, or your place of employment, they go straight into county lockup with no bail until a hearing."
Audrey took a slow, measured breath. The ice against her lip stung, but the cold sensation anchored her. "Thank you, officers."
Meanwhile, eight miles away at *The Brass Oak Steakhouse*—one of the most expensive dining spots in the Short North Arts District—Ethan Vance was living out a fantasy.
He tossed the silver Mercedes key fob onto the white linen tablecloth, right next to a sweating glass of bourbon. Across from him sat his wife, Karla, admiring the way the car looked parked directly in front of the restaurant’s valet circle.
"I can’t believe she just let you take it," Karla purred, snapping a photo of the car through the restaurant window and uploading it immediately to her Instagram story. She captioned it: *Upgraded. Hard work pays off! #Blessed #BenzLife.*
"She didn't have a choice," Ethan scoffed, slicing into a forty-dollar ribeye. "Audrey’s weak. She’s always been weak. Without David whispering in her ear, she folds like a paper napkin. Dad gave her one good reality check, and she practically crawled into the bushes."
"What did your mother say about the house?" Karla asked, her eyes gleaming with greed. "Are we really getting the upstairs master suite?"
"Mom already picked out the paint for the nursery," Ethan laughed. "She said Audrey can move into that studio apartment Dad owns near the railyard. The one with the broken radiator. Audrey doesn't need space. She has no kids, no husband, nothing."
Karla held up her wine glass. "To family."
Ethan raised his tumbler. "To family."
Before the crystal could clink, the heavy glass doors of the steakhouse swung open.
Three uniformed Columbus police officers entered, followed by two plainclothes detectives. The restaurant’s chatter began to drop to an uneasy murmur. The head valet pointed directly toward table fourteen.
Ethan frowned, fork halfway to his mouth. "What the hell is this?"
Officer Miller and his partner walked straight to the table.
"Ethan Vance?" Miller asked, his eyes locked onto Ethan.
"Yeah? What’s the problem, officer? We’re eating dinner."
"Stand up, place your hands behind your back, and do not make any sudden movements."
Karla gasped, dropping her phone onto her plate. "Excuse me?! Do you know who his father is? Richard Vance owns Vance Contracting!"
"Ma'am, shut your mouth and stay seated," Officer Diaz snapped.
"What am I being arrested for?!" Ethan yelled, drawing the eyes of every wealthy patron in the dining room as Miller pulled his arms behind his back. The cold steel of the handcuffs clicked loudly over his wrists. "This is harassment! I didn't do anything!"
"You are under arrest for grand theft of a motor vehicle," Officer Miller stated clearly for the entire dining room to hear. "The blue Mercedes-Benz parked in the valet lane was reported stolen from the residence of Audrey Vance three hours ago."
"Stolen?!" Ethan shrieked, his face turning bright red as other diners pulled out their phones to film him. "That’s my sister’s car! It’s a family vehicle! David died, and she gave it to me! Tell them, Karla!"
"She’s lying! She’s crazy!" Karla screamed, jumping up from the booth. "We have rights!"
"We have four angles of high-definition security footage showing you dumping her purse on the concrete and your father striking her across the face before you drove off," Miller whispered coldly into Ethan’s ear as he hoisted him out of the booth. "Your sister didn't give you a damn thing, son. You took it by force. Move your feet."
Ethan was paraded out through the crowded restaurant, his head down, sobbing in shock and humiliation as smartphones recorded his perp walk from every angle.
Across town, Audrey sat quietly in David’s office. Her phone buzzed against the mahogany desk.
It was Teresa.
Audrey picked up the phone, put it on speaker, and hit the record button.
"AUDREY!" Teresa shrieked into the speaker, her voice shrill enough to distort the microphone. "What have you done?! The police just dragged your brother out of a restaurant in handcuffs like a common criminal! Karla is hysterical! Richard is beside himself! Have you lost your mind?!"
Audrey took a steady sip of water.
"Ethan stole David’s car, Mother."
"HE’S YOUR BROTHER!" Teresa screamed. "It’s a car! Metal and rubber! Your brother’s future could be ruined! He could lose his contractor's license! You call the police right now and tell them it was a misunderstanding! You tell them you gave him permission!"
"No," Audrey said quietly.
"What did you say to me?!"
"I said no," Audrey repeated, her voice deadpan and unyielding. "And Mother? Richard has a warrant out for his arrest as well. If he comes near this house on Friday, he won't be picking up a deed. He’ll be joining Ethan in a holding cell."
"You ungrateful little witch!" Teresa spat, her voice shaking with unhinged fury. "After everything your father did for you! You think you’re so high and mighty because David left you a little money? You think you’re untouchable? We will ruin you, Audrey! We will take every brick of that house, and we will leave you with nothing!"
"Goodbye, Teresa," Audrey said.
She hung up, disconnected the landline, and turned toward the study door as Stephen Vance walked in, carrying a thick leather briefcase.
May you like
"The show has started," Stephen said quietly, closing the door behind him. "Now, Audrey... it’s time to look at what David spent the last three months of his life preparing for you."
***
