Chapter 10 - The Airport Arrest
On the other end of the line, I heard the sound of Grant frantically unzipping his jacket pocket, followed by the clatter of a small plastic USB drive hitting the terminal floor.
“No... no, no, no!” Grant screamed into the phone, his voice escalating into absolute, unhinged hysteria. “You can’t do this! That’s my money! I earned it! You stole my money!”
“You stole it from your children’s future to fund an exit strategy with your mistress, Grant,” I said, every word crisp and unrelenting. “I simply returned it to where it belonged.”
“I’ll come back there!” Grant roared, loud enough that I could hear airport bystanders shouting in the background of the call. “I’ll tear that house down! I’ll take Owen and Lily and you’ll never see them again!”
“You won't be taking anyone anywhere, Grant,” I replied softly. “Look to your left.”
Through the phone speaker, I heard the sudden, sharp heavy footfalls of multiple security officers approaching.
“Grant Moretti?” a stern, authoritative male voice boomed over the line. “Port Authority Police and Federal Marshals. Put your hands behind your back and drop the phone.”
“Wait! You don't understand!” Grant shrieked, his voice muffled as the phone fell onto the airport carpet. “My wife set me up! She’s crazy! Let go of me!”
“You have the right to remain silent,” the marshal’s voice read calmly over the open line. “Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney...”
I reached out my hand and tapped the red button on the screen, ending the call.
Natalie looked up from her laptop, a slow, triumphant smile spreading across her face. “Port Authority just confirmed custody. He’s being held without bail pending federal arraignment for bankruptcy fraud and flight to avoid prosecution.”
May you like
I stood by the kitchen window, watching the rain pour down through the dark trees outside. The storm that had threatened to destroy my life, my home, and my children for eleven long months had finally broken.
And for the first time in nine years, I felt entirely, wonderfully at peace.
