Chapter 7 - The Neighborhood Revolt
I pulled back the velvet curtains in the living room and gasped.
Outside the high iron gates of the Caldwell estate, a crowd of nearly fifty high-society residents from the gated community of Willow Crest had gathered. Flashbulbs were popping. TV news vans were parked on the manicured lawns. Standing at the front of the mob was Victoria Kensington, the president of the Willow Crest Homeowners Association—and Julian Caldwell’s close social ally.
"Ethan Caldwell is bringing gang warfare into our neighborhood!" Victoria shouted into a reporter's microphone. "We have families here! Children! We are demanding an immediate emergency injunction to seize the Caldwell property and remove his armed guards!"
"She's setting up a circus," I said, turning to Ethan. "She wants to force the police to raid this house again to make you look like a threat to the community."
Ethan straightened his tie, his expression hardening. "Let's go talk to our neighbors."
"Ethan, no—there are cameras everywhere!"
"Good," Ethan said, pulling open the front door. "It's time the public sees what kind of man my brother really is."
We walked down the long paved driveway together, flanked by Marcus and Leo. The crowd quieted as Ethan approached the iron gates. Victoria Kensington stepped forward, holding a clipboard like a weapon.
"Ethan," Victoria sneered through the iron bars. "Your presence here has destroyed our property values and put our lives in danger. Guns fired on Willow Crest property? It's unacceptable. We are voting to kick you out of the association and hand the estate over to corporate receivership."
"Victoria," Ethan said, his voice carrying effortlessly over the hum of the news vans. "Did Julian tell you to host this rally, or did he pay off your husband's gambling debts in Atlantic City first?"
Victoria’s face drained of color. "What—how dare you!"
"Three weeks ago," Ethan continued, addressing the reporters directly, "a seven-year-old child was rescued from systematic chemical abuse inside this house. The perpetrators were backed by Julian Caldwell and supported by corrupt medical staff. If you want to talk about property values, Victoria, let's talk about how your husband accepted a kickback to facilitate the illegal land transfer of the north woods to Julian’s shell company."
The news reporters immediately pivoted their cameras toward Victoria, shouting questions.
"Is this true, Mrs. Kensington?" "Did your husband accept bribes from Julian Caldwell?"
May you like
Victoria stammered, stepping back into the crowd as the cameras swarmed her.
Ethan turned to me, whispering low. "That bought us an hour of distraction. The media is focused on Victoria and Julian now. Marcus is bringing the car round to the back terrace. We're going to the cemetery."
