Chapter 6 - The Weight of Steel
Richard Harrington sat in the bleak, windowless interview room of the 14th Precinct.
The walls were painted a nauseating shade of institutional green.
He checked his gold Rolex out of habit.
It was a reflex, a reminder of the power he usually wielded.
But the ticking hands offered no comfort now.
A heavy, metallic click echoed through the small space.
The heavy steel door swung open.
It wasn’t a detective who walked in.
It was Harrison Cole.
Richard jumped up from his metal chair, his heart hammering against his ribs.
"Harry, listen to me," Richard pleaded, his voice cracking.
"I didn’t push her. I didn’t touch her. You know I wouldn’t do that!"
Harrison did not sit down.
He stood between Richard and the door, an immovable force of pure consequence.
"You didn't catch her, either," Harrison said softly.
His voice was quiet, but it carried the weight of a death sentence.
"Vanessa is crazy, Harry!" Richard stammered, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"She lost her mind. I’m the victim here, too. She ruined my life!"
Harrison tilted his head, studying Richard as if he were a bug under a microscope.
"You are not a victim, Richard."
"You are a corpse that just hasn't stopped breathing yet."
Harrison pulled a folded piece of paper from the inside pocket of his ruined, blood-stained suit.
He dropped it onto the metal table.
"What is this?" Richard asked, his hands shaking as he reached for it.
"That is a federal indictment."
Harrison watched Richard’s eyes widen in absolute horror.
"Wire fraud. Embezzlement. Tax evasion."
"The FBI raided your downtown offices twenty minutes ago."
Richard dropped the paper as if it were on fire.
"You can't do this! I have rights! I demand my phone!"
"Your phone is evidence in an attempted murder investigation," Harrison replied evenly.
"And your bank accounts no longer exist."
"Your passport is flagged."
"Your penthouse is being repossessed by the bank as we speak."
Richard slumped back into the metal chair, burying his face in his hands.
He began to sob.
It was a pathetic, hollow sound.
Harrison felt absolutely nothing.
"My sister is alive, Richard."
"Her daughter is alive."
Harrison leaned in close, his voice dropping to a terrifying whisper.
"If you ever come within a hundred miles of either of them again, I won't use the law to destroy you."
May you like
Harrison turned and walked out, leaving the door wide open.
Two federal agents walked in a second later with handcuffs.
