An hour later, a fleet of black police cruisers pulled up outside the gates of the massive Vance family mansion.
Carter walked up the front stone steps, carrying little Leo securely in his arm while Lily leaned on her crutches right beside him.
Behind them walked Officer Hayes and three state troopers, their heavy boots thudding against the porch.
Carter didn't bother ringing the doorbell; he kicked the heavy double doors open with a thunderous crash.
Inside the grand foyer, Daniel Vance was standing near the curved staircase, sipping champagne with a group of estate investors.
Daniel: What is the meaning of this?! Who gave you permission to break into my home?!
Carter: Hello, brother.
Daniel dropped his crystal champagne glass, the glass shattering into a hundred pieces across the marble floor.
His face drained of all color as his eyes moved from Carter to Lily standing in her white coat.
Daniel: Carter...? No... you're dead! You died in Syria six years ago!
Carter: Is that the lie you told the probate judge to steal my life insurance and my daughter's inheritance?
Daniel: Carter, listen to me! I can explain everything! The army sent a missing-in-action notice!
Carter: You forged my death certificate, Daniel! You locked my daughter in a basement while you lived in my house!
Lily: You told me my dad never loved me, Uncle Daniel! You told me he ran away!
Daniel: Lily, shut your mouth! You don't know what you're talking about!
Officer Hayes: Daniel Vance, step away from the stairs and keep your hands where we can see them!
Daniel: Officers, this is a family dispute! My brother is unstable!
Carter: My forensic accountants have spent the last forty-five minutes freezing every single bank account under your name.
Daniel: You can't freeze my accounts! I have a real estate closing in two hours!
Carter: Those accounts belong to my daughter's trust fund! You stole four million dollars from a motherless girl!
Veronica pushed her way through the front doors behind the police officers, her red lipstick smeared as she pointed furiously at Daniel.
Veronica: You lied to me, Daniel! You told me you owned this entire estate! You told me you were a billionaire!
Daniel: Veronica, quiet down! Don't make this worse!
Veronica: The police showed me the forged will documents at the mall! You're a fake! You used me to pay off your debt!
Daniel: I did it for us! So we could get married!
Carter: You did it because you're a greedy coward, Daniel.