Richard reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his phone, dialing three numbers without breaking eye contact with Victoria.
Victoria: Richard, put the phone down. Think about your company's stock price. Think about the headlines!
Richard: Yes, this is Richard Hayes at 14 Ocean Crest Drive. I need police units and child protection services at my residence immediately. I am reporting attempted second-degree murder and child endangerment.
Victoria: You're insane! I am your wife! No judge will believe this garbage based on twenty seconds of blurry footage!
Richard: The footage is 4K ultra-high definition, Victoria. Every twitch of your face is recorded.
Victoria lunged forward, trying to grab Richard’s wrist, but Marcus stepped firmly between them, his large frame blocking her path.
Marcus: Step back, ma'am. Do not make this worse.
Victoria: Richard! Please! We can work this out! We can go to counseling! I was overwhelmed, I wasn't thinking straight!
Richard: You weren't overwhelmed. You were calculating how many millions each second under water was worth to your bank account.
Fifteen minutes later, the flashing red and blue lights illuminated the grand marble entryway of the villa. Two Suffolk County police officers escorted Victoria down the front steps, her wrists pinned behind her back in steel handcuffs.
Victoria: You will regret this, Richard! My family has top trial lawyers! We will sue you for defamation!
Richard stood silently on the porch holding Leo, who had his arms wrapped securely around his father’s neck, refusing to look at the screaming woman being forced into the back of the cruiser.
Police Officer: Mr. Hayes, we have secured the drive from your security chief. Detectives will need formal statements from you and your employee tomorrow morning.
Richard: We'll be there at eight sharp, officer. Make sure the district attorney sees the balcony footage first.
The cruiser pulled away, its sirens wailing down the private drive into the darkness.