Part 7
"Everything is not fine, Evan," I said, my voice echoing off the concrete walls of the small office.
I looked at Maya, who was watching me with wide, terrified eyes. I reached out and took her hand, squeezing it tightly to let her know I wasn't backing down.
"Arthur, listen to me very carefully," Evan said, his voice dropping into a low, threatening register. "You are interfering in a private family matter. If you don't bring my wife and my children back to my house in the next thirty minutes, I will make your life a living hell. I have connections in this town. You're just a retired old man living on a pension. Don't ruin what's left of your miserable life."
I smiled, though there was no joy in it. It was the smile of a man who had spent his entire life working hard, protecting his own, and taking no nonsense from anyone.
"I have something you might want to hear, Evan," I said quietly.
I picked up Tanner's recorder with my free hand, brought it close to the phone's microphone, and hit play.
Evan's own voice echoed through the line, threatening Maya, followed by the undeniable sound of physical violence.
I let it play for just five seconds before hitting stop.
The silence on the other end of the line was absolute. The arrogant, powerful man was suddenly entirely speechless.
May you like
"Tanner gave this to me," I told him, each word cold and precise. "He has six files just like it. We are walking into the police station right now. If I see your car anywhere near my daughter, my grandchildren, or my house, I won't just give this to the cops. I'll post it online for every single one of your corporate clients to hear."
Without waiting for a response, I hung up the phone and threw it onto the desk.
