Chapter 4

Kyle stared at Ethan, the crowbar still in his hand, his chest heaving.

The wad of cash lay scattered on the pavement.

"Five grand? For a taillight? You're lying! You're just trying to extort me!"

Chief Miller stepped forward, his hand resting on his sidearm. "Mr. Jensen, put the crowbar down. Now."

Kyle hesitated, then let the crowbar clatter to the ground.

"This is insane," Kyle muttered, looking around at the now silent crowd. Their expressions had shifted from amusement to shock.

Ethan picked up one of the hundred-dollar bills. "This might cover the sales tax on the taillight."

He looked at Kyle. "You seem to think money is the answer to everything. Let's see how far that gets you."

Kyle' s bravado was crumbling fast. He was starting to look scared.

"My girl... she'll sort this. She knows people. Powerful people."

Ethan almost smiled. "I'm sure she does."

He wondered if Brenda knew just how much trouble her "baby" was in. Or how much trouble she herself was about to be in.

The full thirty thousand for the Chevelle's initial damage, plus five for the taillight, plus whatever charges Kyle was now facing for the assault and vandalism.

This was escalating beyond a simple traffic incident.

"Officer," Ethan said to Miller, "I'd like to press full charges for the assault and the vandalism."

Miller nodded. "Understood, Mr. Cole." He gestured to one of his officers. "Cuff him."

"Cuff me?" Kyle shrieked as an officer approached him. "You can't! I haven't done anything! It was an accident!"

"Swinging a crowbar and smashing someone's property isn't an accident, son," Miller said flatly.

As the officer was handcuffing a struggling Kyle, a black Cadillac Escalade with tinted windows pulled up aggressively, double-parking.

The driver's door opened, and Brenda Cole stepped out.

She was dressed impeccably, exuding power and wealth, flanked by two large men in dark suits – company security.