Two white sheriff's cruisers pulled into the dusty driveway, their red and blue lights flashing brightly against the surrounding oak trees. Sheriff Miller, a tall gray-haired man with a stern face and a heavy leather belt, stepped out of the lead vehicle. He adjusted his badge as he walked up to the house. Marcus rushed out onto the porch immediately, waving his hands in the air frantically like a man drowning.
Marcus: Sheriff! Thank God you're here! These gang members broke into the house and assaulted my staff!
Sheriff: Keep your hands where I can see them, Marcus. We got an emergency call from a passerby about a child fleeing this location.
Jax: The child made it to our clubhouse, Sheriff. She was beaten and bruised.
Marcus: She fell! She tripped on the porch steps while running around like a wild animal!
Sarah: That is a lie! You slapped her across the face when she tried to pull your hand off my wrist!
Sheriff Miller looked between Sarah's cut lip and the forged papers held tightly in Jax's massive hand. He stepped onto the porch, his eyes cold and assessing.
Sheriff: Sarah, step over here. Are you telling me Marcus Miller put hands on you and your daughter?
Sarah: Yes, Sheriff! He locked me in the utility closet and tried to force me to sign over the ranch and Tom's life insurance!
Marcus: She's mentally unstable from grief! She doesn't know what she's saying!
Jax: Take a look at these financial documents, Sheriff. Marcus forged Sarah's name on a quitclaim deed to steal the property.
The Sheriff took the papers from Jax, examining the signatures closely under the afternoon sunlight. His brow furrowed deep with disgust as he read through the insurance payout forms.
Sheriff: This is a federal crime, Marcus. Mail fraud, document forgery, and grand larceny.
Marcus: You can't trust the word of these bikers over a licensed attorney!
Sheriff: I'm trusting the evidence in my hand and the marks on this woman's face.
The Sheriff turned toward his deputy who was standing near the bottom of the porch steps with his hand resting on his holster.
Sheriff: Deputy, place Marcus Miller and his two security guards under arrest for domestic assault, unlawful restraint, and felony fraud.
Marcus: You're making a massive mistake! My legal partners will hear about this before the night is over!
Hawk: Tell them about the broom closet while you're at it, counsellor.
The deputy moved quickly, pulling Marcus's hands behind his back and clicking the steel handcuffs tightly around his wrists. Marcus yelled out in frustration as he was led down the wooden steps toward the back seat of the cruiser. The two hired guards were handcuffed as well, their tough demeanor completely vanishing as they were loaded into the second police vehicle.
Sarah: Thank you, Sheriff... I didn't think anyone would believe me against him.
Sheriff: You don't have to thank me, Sarah. You have good people looking out for you.
The Sheriff turned to Jax, offering a brief, respectful nod before turning back toward his cruiser. The red and blue lights continued to flash as the police cars drove away, leaving a quiet silence over the dusty driveway. The nightmare was finally ending, but the work was far from finished.