Flashing red and blue lights illuminated the massive foyer windows against the morning sky.
Margarethe rushed to the window, pulling back the heavy drapery with trembling fingers.
Margarethe: Richard, tell them it was a misunderstanding! Tell them we had an argument!
Richard: I will tell them the exact truth.
The heavy front doors swung open, and three armed deputies entered the foyer.
Leading them was Sheriff Cooper, a tall man with a weathered face and a silver badge pinned to his chest.
Sheriff Cooper: Mr. Sterling, we received your emergency dispatch. What is going on here?
Margarethe: Sheriff, thank goodness you're here! My husband is threatening me!
Sheriff Cooper: Ma'am, please step back and lower your voice.
Richard: Sheriff Cooper, thank you for coming quickly. I want to report a domestic assault and grand larceny.
Margarethe pointed an accusing finger at Richard, her voice shrill and desperate.
Margarethe: He is lying! He's trying to kick me out of our home without a settlement!
Sheriff Cooper: Richard, who was assaulted?
Richard stepped aside, gently resting his hands on Lily's shoulders.
Richard: My daughter, Lily. Look at her cheek.
Sheriff Cooper crouched down on one knee in front of Lily, his expression softening.
Sheriff Cooper: Hey there, Lily. Can you tell me what happened to your face?
Lily: Margarethe slapped me because I found the computer drive under the desk.
Sheriff Cooper: Did anyone else see this happen?
Richard: We have high-definition video footage with full audio from the interior insurance feed.
Margarethe: That footage is illegal! It violates wiretapping laws!
Sheriff Cooper: In Texas, private home security owned by the primary deed-holder is completely admissible, ma'am.
Sheriff Cooper stood up, nodding toward Deputy Miller.
Sheriff Cooper: Miller, take a look at the console screen. Document the time stamp.
Deputy Miller walked over to the desk, watching the replay of Margarethe striking the child.
Deputy Miller: Clear view of physical battery on a minor, Sheriff. Hand contact to the left cheekbone.
Sheriff Cooper: Put your hands behind your back, Margarethe.
Margarethe backed away toward the grand staircase, raising both hands defensively.
Margarethe: Do not touch me! I demand to speak to my attorney right now!
Sheriff Cooper: You will get your phone call at the precinct. Turn around.
Margarethe: Richard, do something! You cannot let them arrest me like a street criminal!
Richard stood tall, not moving an inch to help her.
Richard: You made your choice when you laid hands on my child.
Deputy Miller stepped behind Margarethe, firmly grabbing her wrists and pulling them behind her back.
The sharp click of metal handcuffs echoed loudly across the empty foyer.
Margarethe: These handcuffs are pinching my skin! Let me go!
Sheriff Cooper: Margarethe Sterling, you are under arrest for injury to a child and domestic violence.
Richard: Sheriff, add felony bank fraud and identity theft to the file.
Richard handed the silver flash drive directly to Sheriff Cooper.
Richard: The federal wire documents and forged signatures are all stored on this device.
Sheriff Cooper: We will tag this into evidence immediately and notify the state prosecutor.
Margarethe screamed as Deputy Miller guided her toward the heavy front entrance.
Margarethe: You will never get away with this, Richard! I will sue you for every penny you own!
Richard looked down at her with complete disgust.
Richard: Never step foot in Texas again.
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