Chapter 7 - Ash and Confession
The heavy floor joists, already compromised by the fire, gave way instantly under the kinetic impact. Timothy screamed as his right leg plunged through the burning ceiling, dropping the steel lockbox down the flight of stairs.
The box bounced, clattering directly through the flaming threshold. Jax lunged forward with a Kevlar rescue blanket, smothering the container and dragging it across the scorching parquet floor toward the exit.
""Get out! The roof is dropping!"" Jax bellowed, grabbing Arthur’s arm.
Arthur locked eyes with Timothy for a single second through the billowing smoke. ""May God have mercy on your soul, Father. Because my courts won't.""
They burst out into the night air just as the central roof spire caved in, sending a geyser of embers three stories into the night sky. In the driveway, three county sheriff cruisers arrived with sirens wailing, their red and blue strobes painting the chaos in grotesque shades of neon.
Sheriff Lawson stepped out of the lead cruiser, unholstering his taser, flanked by two deputies with shotguns raised. ""Hands where I can see them! Sterling, you are under arrest for arson, kidnapping, and assault on church officials!""
Arthur didn't raise his hands. He walked calmly toward Lawson, unbuttoning his coat to reveal he was completely unarmed.
""Lawson,"" Arthur said, his voice cutting through the wailing sirens. ""Before you ruin your life, check the registration on that black executive jet currently entering county airspace. It carries two federal prosecutors and the Director of the State Bureau of Investigation.""
May you like
Lawson’s hand froze near his utility belt.
""And if you don't believe me,"" Arthur added, stepping within inches of the sheriff’s sweating face, ""ask yourself why your personal offshore account in the Caymans was frozen twenty minutes ago.""
