Chapter 13: The Arrest Nobody Expected
The chapel doors opened.
Two police officers stepped inside.
The funeral guests immediately moved aside, whispering among themselves.
Nia felt her heart racing.
After everything that had happened, after every secret and every hidden truth, she still wasn’t prepared for this moment.
Someone was about to be arrested.
Someone in the chapel.
Someone who had known Arthur.
Marcus stood still.
Lena looked frightened.
Maya reached for Nia’s hand.
Then everyone turned toward Veronica.
Because everyone expected the same thing.
But the officers walked past her.
They stopped in front of Marcus.
“Attorney Marcus Reed?””
The entire room froze.
Marcus looked surprised.
“Yes.””
One officer held up a folder.
“We need you to come with us for questioning regarding evidence connected to Arthur Carter’s death.””
Nia felt like the ground disappeared.
“Marcus?””
He looked at her.
“I don’t understand.””
The officer remained calm.
“We received information that places you near Arthur’s residence on the night he died.””
Nia stared at him.
“That’s impossible.””
Marcus looked at Veronica.
Then at the officers.
“Who provided this information?””
The officer didn’t answer.
But his eyes moved briefly.
Toward Veronica.
Nia noticed.
So did Marcus.
“Veronica.””
Her name came out quietly.
Everyone looked at her.
Veronica’s face changed.
“I didn’t do anything.””
Marcus laughed once.
Not because it was funny.
Because he finally understood.
“You knew.””
Veronica shook her head.
“No.””
“You knew exactly what would happen when the police arrived.””
“I called them because I wanted answers.””
Marcus stared at her.
“No.””
His voice became colder.
“You called them because you wanted someone else standing where you should be.””
The officers stepped closer.
Nia couldn’t move.
Her mind was trying to process everything.
Marcus had been the one helping them.
He had protected the folder.
He had brought Arthur’s recording.
Could he really be involved?
Lena stepped forward.
“Wait.””
Everyone looked at her.
She looked at the officers.
“Marcus did not hurt my father.””
The officer looked at her.
“How do you know?””
“Because I was there.””
The room became silent.
Lena continued.
“I saw what happened.””
Nia turned toward her.
“You never told us.””
Lena looked down.
“I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
Lena looked at Veronica.
“Of the same person who made my father afraid.””
The officers looked toward Veronica.
But Veronica didn’t move.
Instead, she smiled.
A small, tired smile.
“You all finally understand.””
Nia stared.
“What does that mean?””
Veronica looked at the coffin.
“It means Arthur was right.””
Everyone froze.
“What?””
Veronica took a breath.
“He spent years searching for the truth.””
She looked at Nia.
“And he never realized the truth was already standing beside him.””
Nia felt a chill.
“Who?””
Veronica looked at Lena.
The answer shocked everyone.
“Your father wasn’t betrayed by one person.””
Lena’s face changed.
“What are you saying?””
Veronica looked away.
“I’m saying Arthur created this mess himself.””
Marcus frowned.
“Explain.””
Veronica shook her head.
“No.””
The officer stepped forward.
“Ma’am, you need to come with us as well.””
For the first time, Veronica looked genuinely surprised.
“Why?””
The officer opened his folder.
“Because the evidence we received includes your name.””
Silence.
Nia watched Veronica’s confidence disappear.
“What evidence?””
The officer looked at the papers.
“Financial records. Altered documents. And a recording.””
Marcus looked at him.
“A recording of what?””
The officer paused.
“A conversation between Arthur Carter and the person who found him that night.””
Everyone looked at Lena.
She whispered:
“That was me.””
Nia turned.
“You found him?””
Lena nodded.
“I went to see him because he called me.””
The room went quiet.
“He said he finally knew who was stealing from him.””
Nia felt her chest tighten.
“What happened when you arrived?””
Lena looked toward the screen.
“Arthur was alive.””
Everyone listened.
“He gave me the memory card.””
She swallowed.
“Then someone came in.””
“Who?””
Lena’s eyes filled with tears.
“I don’t know.””
The answer shocked everyone.
“But I heard a voice.””
Nia stepped closer.
“Whose voice?””
Lena looked at Veronica.
Then away.
“It sounded familiar.””
The chapel fell silent.
Marcus looked at the officers.
“Play the recording.””
The officer hesitated.
Then connected a device.
The chapel screen turned on again.
Arthur appeared.
But this time, the video wasn’t from him.
It was security footage.
A grainy image.
Arthur’s home.
A figure entering.
Then another.
The first person was Lena.
The second person walked into view.
Everyone gasped.
Because the face was visible.
Nia felt her breath stop.
It wasn’t Veronica.
It wasn’t Marcus.
It wasn’t Elaine.
It was someone nobody expected.
Harold Jenkins.
The old employee who had brought them the key.
The man who claimed Arthur trusted him.
May you like
Harold closed his eyes.
Because the secret was finally exposed.
