Chapter 9 - The Handcuffs and the Fall
The flashing red and blue emergency lights danced across the high stained-glass windows of the Mercer mansion.
Four uniformed officers from the Chicago Police Department strode into the ballroom with swift, purposeful steps.
Leading the squad was Detective Sarah Briggs, a seasoned investigator whose eyes took in the entire scene in seconds.
She observed the shattered glass, the overturned banquet table, the bruised daughter, and the enraged mother in red.
"Who called in the physical assault and felony threat?" Detective Briggs demanded, scanning the room.
"I did," Evelyn Mercer replied firmly, stepping forward while keeping her arm locked around Clara.
"Julian Vance physically assaulted my daughter Clara in front of hundreds of witnesses," Evelyn stated with clarity.
"He struck her face, threatened her life with premeditated murder, and attempted to attack me when I intervened," she added.
Detective Briggs walked directly toward Julian, who was still pinned against the table by Marcus’s massive grip.
"Mr. Vance, keep your hands behind your back and do not resist," Briggs ordered, unholstering heavy steel handcuffs.
"This is a massive misunderstanding! It was a domestic argument between family members!" Julian yelled frantically.
"She slapped me twice! Look at my face! Evelyn assaulted me first!" Julian shrieked like a coward.
"I witnessed the entire altercation from the beginning, Detective," Marcus announced in a calm, authoritative voice.
"Mr. Vance struck the victim without provocation and later initiated a physical assault on Mrs. Mercer," Marcus testified.
"We also have full security video footage from three separate angles in high-definition," Marcus informed the officers.
Click-clack.
The cold steel handcuffs snapped tightly around Julian’s wrists, locking his hands firmly behind his back.
Julian winced in pain as the metal bit into his skin, his luxurious tuxedo sleeve bunching clumsily over his wrists.
Evelyn watched with cold satisfaction as the man who dared to strike her child was subdued like a common street thug.
"Take him out through the front doors where every single reporter in the city is waiting," Evelyn instructed the officers.
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Julian struggled against the officers' grips, screaming curses and threats as he was dragged across the ruined floor.
His polished shoes kicked through the shattered crystal and bruised rose petals that once decorated his wedding day.
