Chapter 7 - The Final Meeting
Two days later, Richard was sitting in a sterile visitation room at the county jail, wearing a bright orange jumpsuit that made his skin look sickly and yellow. The pristine teeth and polished manners were gone, replaced by the hollow stare of a man who had finally realized his money couldn't save him.
The heavy steel door opened, and Arthur Miller walked in.
He wasn't wearing his faded contractor’s uniform. He wore a crisp, tailored black suit that fit his military posture perfectly. He didn't sit down. He stood by the door, looking down at Richard with the cold, analytical gaze of a commander inspecting a defeated enemy.
"You," Richard spat, his voice raspy. "You did this. Who are you, Arthur? What did you do to my family?"
"I didn't do anything to your family, Richard," Arthur said, his voice quiet but carrying a weight that filled the small room. "You did this. You thought because you had a little money and a local badge in your pocket, you could treat my daughter like she was your property. You forgot that some people have pasts that make your little empire look like a sandbox."
"My lawyers will get me out," Richard sneered, though there was no conviction in his eyes. "This is a first offense. I’ll get probation. I’ll find Lily, and I’ll—"
Arthur stepped forward, leaning his hands flat on the table. The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees.
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"If you ever say her name again, Richard," Arthur whispered, "I won't call the authorities. I won't use the courts. I’ll simply activate the second phase of that Code Black you heard me order. And I promise you, nobody will ever find the pieces."
Richard swallowed hard, his posture slumping back into his chair as the sheer, terrifying reality of Arthur’s identity finally registered. He didn't say another word.
