Chapter 3 - The Gathering of Jackals
At six in the morning, the harsh glare of dawn broke over the city. Maya was still sleeping, sedated by the medication Dr. Thorne had prescribed. Elena stood by the kitchen window, drinking black coffee, when the front buzzer sounded violently.
Elena walked to the security monitor in the hallway. On the high-definition screen stood Rebecca Vance, accompanied by a man in a bespoke gray suit carrying a thick leather briefcase. Rebecca was pacing the sidewalk, her face twisted into a mask of frantic fury.
Elena did not buzz them up. Instead, she stepped out onto the elevated stone porch, pulling the heavy door closed behind her.
"Elena!" Rebecca hissed, marching up the granite steps until she stood just below Elena. "Tell the police to drop the charges immediately. Do you have any idea what you’ve done? David spent the night in a holding cell with common criminals! The morning papers have already picked up the police blotter!"
"Good," Elena said flatly. "I hope the holding cell was cold."
"How dare you!" Rebecca bristled, her voice rising to a shrill screech. "My son is a senior partner at Vance & Sterling Asset Management! His reputation is spotless! This is a minor domestic squabble that should have been settled over breakfast, not broadcast to the entire city! Tell Maya to come down here right now and sign the affidavit of non-prosecution!"
The lawyer stepped forward, clearing his throat. "Mrs. Vance—I mean, Mrs. Mercer. I am Leonard Croft, representing the Vance family. If your daughter proceeds with these baseless criminal charges, we will be forced to file a countersuit for defamation and emotional distress. Furthermore, Mr. Vance controls all marital assets. Maya will find herself completely destitute, without a penny to her name, without a roof over her head, and tied up in litigation for the next decade."
Elena looked down at Croft. A cold, dismissive smile touched the corner of her lips.
"Mr. Croft," Elena said calmly. "You are an attorney, yet you are currently on my private property attempting to intimidate a witness in a felony assault case. In Massachusetts, that constitutes witness tampering under Chapter 268, Section 13B. My security cameras have recorded every syllable that has come out of your mouth, complete with directional audio."
Croft’s face froze. He instinctively stepped back half a pace.
"And as for you, Rebecca," Elena continued, turning her gaze upon the older woman. "You stood in a public restaurant and applauded while your son assaulted my daughter. You told him that's how a husband teaches his wife. I have already secured the security footage from The Copper Lantern. The manager handed it over to the district attorney two hours ago. You are not dealing with a frightened twenty-nine-year-old girl anymore. You are dealing with me."
"You think you can intimidate us?" Rebecca sneered, her mask slipping completely. "The Vances built this city! We have judges on speed dial! Your daughter is a pathetic, barren little mouse who couldn't even keep her husband happy in bed, let alone in public! She’ll crawl back to him on her knees before this week is out!"
The front door opened quietly behind Elena. Maya stepped out onto the porch.
She wore one of Elena’s simple wool coats. Her face was pale, the bruises along her jawline and neck already darkening into deep plum shades. But she was standing upright.
"I will never crawl to him again, Rebecca," Maya said. Her voice was not loud, but it was crystal clear in the quiet morning air. "And neither will my money."
Croft cleared his throat nervously. "Mrs. Vance, we must urge you—"
"My name is Maya Mercer," she interrupted. "Get off my mother's property before we have you both arrested for trespassing."
Rebecca glared at them with pure, unadulterated hatred. "You’ll regret this, both of you. You will lose everything!"
May you like
She spun around on her high heels and marched down the street, Croft scurrying behind her like an obedient dog.
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