Chapter 7 - The Final Act
Thorne’s smile faltered when he saw the officer stop. He strode over, his face purple with rage. "What are you doing? Arrest him! He’s a trespasser!"
"Mr. Thorne," the officer said, his voice dropping, "the paperwork here... the signature on the warrant is forged. It says it came from the district court, but there’s no stamp."
I felt the adrenaline surge. I stepped toward Thorne, the lobby going deathly quiet. "You forgot one thing, Julian. You’re smart enough to steal, but you’re arrogant enough to think you’re above the law. I didn't come here alone. I came here with the board’s secret auditors."
The double doors of the grand ballroom swung open. A group of men and women, led by the Chairman of the Board—a man I had hand-picked years ago—stepped out. They were holding tablets displaying the financial records, the maintenance logs, and the recordings of Thorne’s threats.
"Julian Thorne," the Chairman said, his voice booming through the lobby. "You are relieved of your duties, effective immediately. And the police are here to escort you to a different kind of room."
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Thorne looked around, his eyes darting from the board members to the police officer. He knew he was finished. As he was led away, his face twisted in a mask of defeat, I didn't feel triumph. I felt a heavy, bittersweet release.
I looked over at Lily. She ran toward me, burying her face in my leg. I picked her up, my arms finally feeling strong enough to hold her forever. The hotel was safe. My wife’s memory was no longer a casualty of greed. I was finally, truly, back home.
