Chapter 22 - THE ARREST
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Sarah opened the laptop in her motel room. She spent three hours organizing the spreadsheets, building an undeniable paper trail that linked Linda to the systemic theft of Mark’s company.
She was just hitting 'print' when heavy, aggressive knocking shook her motel door.
"Police! Open the door!"
Sarah froze. She hurried to the door and undid the chain. Two uniformed officers stood on the concrete walkway. Behind them, standing near a patrol cruiser, was Linda.
"Sarah Collins," the lead officer said, stepping into the room. "You are in violation of a court-mandated CPS restraining order. We have security footage of you entering your primary residence yesterday, and phone records showing you coerced your husband into a meeting tonight."
"She’s embezzling!" Sarah shouted, pointing at the printer. "Look at the papers! She stole from the company!"
Linda stepped forward, clutching her purse, her face the very picture of a terrified, grieving grandmother. "Officers, please. She’s having another manic episode. She’s obsessed with money, just like she was before she tried to hurt my beautiful granddaughter."
The officer grabbed Sarah’s wrists and spun her around, snapping cold metal handcuffs in place.
"Mark gave me that laptop!" Sarah screamed as she was pulled out the door.
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"My son is terrified of you," Linda said quietly, entirely for the benefit of the police. She looked at the laptop on the desk, then back at Sarah. Her eyes were completely dead. "Don't worry, Sarah. I’ll make sure Lily is safe."
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