Chapter 4

At the station, the harsh fluorescent lights beat down on Pierce’s face. Sweat was pouring down his forehead.

The detective slammed the agreement onto the table.

"Pierce, let's try this again. Did Amanda sign this paper or not?"

Pierce grit his teeth, still trying to play tough.

"Yes! She signed it!"

"It was during the 'Senior Care Outreach' event organized by the neighborhood association last month. She signed it right in front of me!"

Sitting across from him, I watched his pathetic performance with cold amusement.

"Fine," I said. "Detective, I want to proceed with the handwriting analysis."

"Furthermore, I want to pull the security footage from the community center from last month."

"If it was an official neighborhood association event, there must be records, right?"

Pierce’s hands began to tremble.

He swallowed hard, and his aggressive attitude suddenly flipped into a pathetic plea.

"Amanda, come on, we’re neighbors. We see each other every day."

"Do you really have to be this cruel?"

"My mom has always been so sweet to you. She even brought you homemade apple pie once!"

"Even if you didn't sign it, she broke her leg! Would it kill you to just help out with some medical bills?"

I laughed out of sheer anger.

"Pierce, do you think the whole world is your mother and has to cater to your whims?"

"Your mother brought me dessert once, and the very next day, you came over to borrow my car. When I said no, you went onto our neighborhood Snapchat group and called me a selfish bitch."

"You call that being sweet?"

"You forged my signature, crashed my office, and tried to ruin my career and reputation. And you call that being a neighbor?"

I stood up, leaning over the table, pressing him hard.

"Let me tell you something. You won’t get a single dime of that fifty thousand dollars."

"On top of that, I’m suing you for forgery, extortion, and defamation."

"I am going to destroy you."

The detective tapped the table. "Alright, Amanda, take a seat."

The detective then turned to Pierce.

"Pierce, let me make this clear. Once the forensic handwriting analysis is done, if it's a forgery, the charges become much more severe."

"Tell the truth now, while you still have a chance."

Pierce’s psychological defense finally shattered.

He buried his face in his hands, slumping miserably into his chair.

"Okay... I had someone else sign it."

The interrogation room went dead silent.

I quietly turned on the voice recorder on my phone. "Who signed it?"

Pierce didn't dare to look at me.

"I... I paid someone online to forge it."

"Why did you forge my signature?"

"Because... because the neighborhood association was holding a contest for the 'Community Angel Award.' First place gets a five-thousand-dollar grant."

"The rules state you need to submit active volunteer logs for senior care."

"I... I couldn't find anyone, so I used your info."

I stared at him, feeling utterly repulsed.

For a five-thousand-dollar prize, he sold out his neighbor's private information.

For a fifty-thousand-dollar extortion plot, he dragged his injured mother to a corporate lobby.

This man was absolute scum.

The detective finished writing the report and slid it over for Pierce to sign.

"Pierce, you are being charged with forgery and attempted grand larceny."

"You’re being booked."

Pierce snapped his head up, eyes wide with disbelief.

"Booked?! No! I can't go to jail!"

"My mom is still in the hospital! Who is going to take care of her?!"

I looked at him coldly.

"Why don't you use that five-thousand-dollar prize money to hire a nurse?"

"Oh, wait. Now that you're going to jail, I guess you won't be getting that money anyway."

Pierce glared at me, his eyes filled with venomous rage.

"Amanda, you'll pay for this!"

"Just wait until I get out! I’m coming for you!"

I met his gaze, refusing to back down even an inch.

"I’ll be waiting."