Chapter 7 - The Last Dinner
David returned shortly after nine.
He did not greet Emma.
He entered the kitchen carrying a leather briefcase, removed his jacket, and placed it over a chair.
Margaret had arranged the documents across the marble island.
The scene looked almost civilized.
Sarah stood near the hallway with Emma beside her.
David poured himself a drink.
“Sit down.”
Sarah remained standing.
“Let Emma go upstairs.”
“No,” David said. “You behave better when she’s present.”
Margaret glanced at him.
Even she seemed surprised by his honesty.
David opened the briefcase and removed a document.
“This statement confirms that every transfer from your trust was made with your knowledge and consent.”
“I won’t sign it.”
“Then tomorrow the company may default on its largest loan.”
“That is not my responsibility.”
“You are my wife.”
“I was your wife when you forged my name.”
David took a slow drink.
“You think this is about a few signatures? This family gave you everything.”
“My mother gave me that money.”
“And what did you do with it? Nothing. It sat in an account while hundreds of people could lose their jobs.”
Sarah looked at the documents.
“You didn’t use all of it to save jobs.”
David said nothing.
Elena’s investigation had revealed private travel, gambling debts, and a condominium purchased under another company’s name.
Sarah continued.
“You bought an apartment in New York.”
Margaret turned toward David.
“What apartment?”
His silence answered her.
For the first time, mother and son were not united.
Margaret picked up one of the statements.
“You told me every withdrawal was necessary.”
“It was.”
“Was the apartment necessary?”
David slammed the glass onto the island.
“This is not the time.”
Margaret stared at him.
“You lied to me.”
Sarah almost felt sorry for her.
Margaret had helped build the trap, only to discover that David had built another one for her.
David pointed at the chair.
“Sit down, Sarah.”
“No.”
Emma began backing toward the hallway.
David noticed.
“Emma, stay where you are.”
The child froze.
Sarah’s voice sharpened.
“Do not order her.”
“I am her father.”
“You use that word whenever you want obedience.”
David moved around the island.
Sarah guided Emma behind her.
“Go to the hallway,” she whispered.
David blocked their path.
“Nobody is leaving until the document is signed.”
Margaret gathered the pages.
“David, perhaps we should stop.”
He turned toward her.
“Now you want to stop?”
“We need another strategy.”
“There is no other strategy. The bank opens in ten hours.”
Sarah looked toward the old black telephone mounted near the pantry.
It was less than twenty feet away.
David followed her eyes.
Then he smiled.
“The line is disconnected.”
Margaret glanced at him.
“You disconnected it?”
“I disconnected every line.”
Sarah’s heart sank.
David stepped closer.
“You have no phone. The gates are locked. The staff has been sent home. Your father doesn’t know what is happening.”
Sarah forced herself to keep breathing.
David placed the pen on the island.
“Sign.”
“No.”
He picked up the pen and held it toward her.
“Sign.”
Emma started crying.
Sarah reached for her daughter.
David caught Sarah by the arm.
She pulled away.
The movement happened quickly.
Sarah lost her balance near the edge of the island and fell onto the wooden floor.
Pain shot through her leg and lower back.
For several seconds, she could not breathe.
Emma screamed.
David looked down at Sarah.
He appeared shocked, but he did not kneel to help her.
Instead, he looked at Margaret.
“She fell.”
Margaret’s face was pale.
“You grabbed her.”
“She pulled away.”
Sarah tried to stand.
Her leg collapsed beneath her.
Emma moved toward her, but David stepped between them.
“Stay back.”
Sarah raised her head.
David crouched several feet away.
His voice was low.
“This is what happens when you refuse to listen.”
Margaret whispered his name.
David ignored her.
He looked at Sarah, helpless on the floor.
“Nobody is coming for you.”
May you like
Sarah saw Emma in the hallway.
She raised two fingers.
