Chapter 5 - The Sister-in-Law
Dana’s desperate sobs echoed loudly through the quiet, luxurious hotel suite.
"Why on earth would I ever help you, Dana?" I asked coldly, my protective maternal instincts fully engaged.
"You actively participated in the massive cover-up, and you completely ignored my calls when I was alone in the ER."
"I was terrified of them, Sarah!" Dana cried defensively, her voice cracking with pure panic.
"Gary threatened to legally cut off my entire trust fund if I didn't aggressively support Linda's ridiculous flinch story."
My father leaned closer to the phone, his sharp legal mind instantly recognizing a massive opportunity.
"What exactly are they trying to frame you for now, Dana?" my father asked smoothly.
Dana let out a long, ragged breath, trying to steady her frantic voice.
"When the horrific news broadcast hit the local channels, Gary entirely panicked and completely lost his mind."
"He realized the undeniable video proved Linda deliberately threw the coffee, and he aggressively needed a new scapegoat."
I felt a sudden, sickening knot form entirely in my stomach.
"What did Gary do?" I demanded impatiently.
"He just officially called the local police and told them that I was the one who actually threw the coffee," Dana revealed in absolute horror.
"He actively claimed the video was heavily edited, and that I assaulted Ellie because I was insanely jealous of your marriage."
I stared at the phone in complete, paralyzing shock.
Gary was actually willing to throw his own flesh and blood daughter entirely under the bus just to desperately protect his wife.
"That is completely insane, the unedited video clearly shows Linda’s face," I argued fiercely.
"Gary has the corrupt local police chief securely in his back pocket," Dana sobbed wildly.
"They already issued a massive arrest warrant for me, and the cops are actively banging on my front door right now!"
"I need you to officially tell the police the actual truth, Sarah, please!"
My father quickly muted the phone, preventing Dana from hearing our strategic conversation.
"This is absolutely perfect," my father smiled, his eyes gleaming with aggressive, dark intent.
"We can officially use Dana’s complete desperation to entirely destroy Gary’s remaining corrupt connections."
"She is a massive victim here too, Dad, we can't just leave her to get arrested," I argued, despite my lingering anger toward her.
My father unmuted the phone, his voice taking on a completely authoritative, commanding tone.
"Dana, this is Richard, Sarah's father and legal counsel," he stated clearly.
"Do exactly what I tell you, and I will personally ensure you never see the inside of a jail cell."
"I will do absolutely anything you say, Richard," Dana promised frantically.
"Do not officially open your front door for the police, and absolutely do not say a single word to them," my father instructed smoothly.
"I am aggressively sending my private legal team to your house right now, and they will physically escort you completely safely out of the county."
"Thank you, thank you so much," Dana cried happily before abruptly hanging up the phone.
My father immediately made three rapid phone calls, flawlessly executing the aggressive extraction plan in minutes.
I watched him work, completely amazed by his ruthless, calculated efficiency.
"What is the actual play here, Dad?" I asked, checking Ellie’s bandages while she slept peacefully.
"Gary’s entire corrupt power structure heavily relies entirely on absolute family loyalty and silence," my dad explained.
"By officially removing Dana from his direct control, we completely strip him of his designated scapegoat."
"And when she officially testifies against him under federal oath, his entire corrupt empire will completely collapse."
I felt a massive wave of dark, satisfying justice wash over me entirely.
They had aggressively tried to destroy my innocent daughter, and now their own toxic family was rapidly tearing itself apart from the inside.
A sudden, sharp knock on the hotel suite door made me jump slightly.
My father walked over and looked through the glass peephole, his expression instantly darkening with pure fury.
"It is a completely uninvited guest," my dad noted coldly, stepping away from the heavy door.
"Who is it?" I asked, grabbing the heavy brass lamp from the bedside table just in case.
"It is Linda," my father replied, his voice completely devoid of any emotion.
I felt my blood turn entirely to ice in my veins.
The monster who had brutally burned my child was actually standing right outside my door.
"How did she completely bypass the elite hotel security downstairs?" I whispered in absolute terror.
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"She didn't bypass them, Sarah," my dad noted, pointing toward the heavy door.
"She is completely covered in dark blood, and she looks like she was just in a massive, violent car accident."
