Chapter 7 - The Dinner Party from Hell
Judith Mercer was a narcissist of the highest order, and narcissists cannot tolerate the perception of defeat.
Even with her bank accounts frozen and her daughter-in-law holding the keys to the farmhouse, Judith decided that the best way to regain social standing was to host her annual 'Founders’ Circle Dinner' on Tuesday evening. It was the premier gathering of Oak Creek’s wealthiest families, an event Judith had hosted at her historic split-level home for twenty years.
She assumed that if she put on a brave face, served vintage champagne, and announced Nolan’s 'miraculous new chapter' with Brianna, the country club crowd would rally around her and freeze me out of the town’s social fabric.
She severely underestimated Wyatt’s network of local informants.
At 7:30 p.m., Judith’s dining room was packed with twenty of Oak Creek’s most prominent citizens. The wine was flowing, though the catering was noticeably cheaper than in previous years due to her spending limits. Nolan sat at the end of the table looking like a ghost, while Brianna, who had returned after Nolan promised her a cut of the family trusts, wore an overly tight sequined dress, nervously clutching a glass of sparkling water.
Judith stood at the head of the table, tapping her silver spoon against a crystal glass.
"Friends, neighbors," Judith began, smiling with sheer force of will. "I know there have been ugly rumors circulating over the past few days. Divorces are always painful, and unfortunately, some people resort to dramatic theatrics when they realize they no longer belong in our circle. But tonight, we celebrate family. We celebrate Nolan, and the blessing of his new child with Brianna—"
The front door didn't knock. It swung wide open.
Two uniformed process servers stepped into the foyer, followed immediately by me, Jonathan Drake, and two armed county marshals.
The chatter in the dining room died instantly. Mrs. Sterling dropped her fork onto her porcelain plate with a loud clatter.
"Judith Mercer," the lead process server announced in a booming voice that echoed off the chandeliers. "You are hereby served with an emergency subpoena for criminal grand jury proceedings regarding corporate fraud, grand theft, and money laundering."
Judith’s face lost every shred of color. Her hand shook so violently that red wine spilled over the white linen tablecloth, soaking into the fabric like fresh blood.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Judith stammered, looking at the county marshals. "This is a private dinner party! Get out of my house!"
"Actually, Mrs. Mercer," the lead marshal said, stepping forward with an official court writ. "We are executing an asset preservation and replevin warrant issued under Docket Nine-Eight-Four. Every piece of high-value personal property in this residence acquired with funds originating from Mercer Consulting LLC is subject to immediate seizure."
Four moving technicians with dollies and heavy-duty protective blankets walked in through the front entrance behind the marshals.
Brianna stood up, shrieking. "You can't do this! This is harassment!"
"Brianna Cole," Jonathan Drake said smoothly, pulling a separate paper from his briefcase. "You are in possession of a six-carat diamond tennis bracelet and a Cartier love ring purchased on December fourteenth at the Galleria in Charlotte, paid for via Apex Logistics debit card number four-one-two-two. Those items are direct proceeds of corporate embezzlement."
Drake gestured to the female marshal. "Hand them over, Ms. Cole, or the marshal will place you under arrest for possession of stolen property right now."
Brianna looked frantically at Nolan. "Nolan! Do something! Protect me!"
Nolan just stared at the table, completely broken, his head buried in his hands. He didn't move. He didn't say a word.
"Nolan, you coward!" Brianna screamed.
With tears of rage streaming down her face, Brianna ripped the bracelet off her wrist and threw it across the dining table. It hit a crystal gravy boat and splashed onto Judith’s dress before skittering across the hardwood floor. She yanked the Cartier ring off her finger and hurled it directly at Drake’s feet.
"Take your stupid jewelry!" she sobbed.
"Thank you for your cooperation," Drake said, picking up the jewelry with a gloved hand and dropping it into an evidence bag.
The dinner guests were already standing up, mortified, grabbing their coats without saying a single word of comfort to Judith.
"Please! Don't go!" Judith begged, grabbing Mrs. Sterling’s arm. "Eleanor, please, we’ve known each other for thirty years!"
Mrs. Sterling pulled her arm away with cold disgust. "Thirty years, Judith, and you never told me you were stealing from your son’s wife to fund your lifestyle. Don't call me again."
May you like
One by one, the guests filed out past the marshals, leaving Judith standing amid spilled wine, half-eaten beef tenderloin, and the sound of packing tape being ripped as my movers began tagging her antique grandfather clock for repossession.
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