Twenty minutes later, two more police cruisers pulled into the driveway. Officers marched out holding Marcus Sterling in handcuffs. He wore a rumpled designer suit, his face pale and sweat-stained as he was led past the living room windows.
Marcus: Robert! Robert, listen to me! Evelyn made me do it! She threatened to expose my offshore bank accounts!
Robert walked to the front porch, staring down at his stepbrother with pure, cold disgust.
Robert: You paid off Dr. Harrison to forge my sister's death certificate, Marcus.
Marcus: Harrison took the money! He promised me Sarah's file was completely deleted from the hospital database!
Detective Vance: Dr. Harrison was arrested at his Chicago clinic thirty minutes ago, Mr. Sterling. He gave a full sworn confession admitting to the forgery and the monthly trust payoffs.
Marcus let out a dry, hollow gasp, his knees buckling as the officers forced him into the second patrol car.
Marcus: Robert... please... we can transfer the sixty percent voting stock back to you today!
Robert: The voting stock belongs to Toby. And you are going to rot in a federal cell for the rest of your life, Marcus.
The patrol car door slammed shut, its sirens wailing as it followed the lead cruiser down the long estate driveway.
Robert walked back inside the warm living room. The paramedics had finished checking Toby's vital signs and were preparing him for a brief transfer to St. Jude's Children's Hospital for nutritional therapy.
Paramedic: Mr. Sterling, Toby's lungs are clear and his vitals are stable. With proper care and nutrition, he is going to make a full recovery.
Robert: Thank God... Thank you, doctor.
Robert knelt beside the stretcher, taking Toby's small hand into his own broad palm.
Robert: I'm coming to the hospital with you, Toby. And when we come back, this house is going to be completely remodeled for you and Lily.
Toby: Can we fill up the dark hole in the floor, Daddy?
Robert: We are filling it with solid concrete today, sweetie. There will never be any darkness in this house ever again.