Don't Mess with the Girl with Candy novel Chapter 1086

"This is a frame-up!"

Barnaby stumbled backward, shaking his head frantically. "This is all a lie! I've never done any of this!"

"There's no need to cause a scene, Mr. Yardley." The lead officer was entirely unfazed. He pulled out a thick, heavy folder and held it up for the room to see. "Audio recordings, video surveillance, untraceable bank transfers, private chat logs... Whatever proof you need, we have it right here."

He paused, letting the reality sink in before delivering the final blow. "Furthermore, both you and your daughter are prime suspects in a kidnapping conspiracy. We have already taken the victim's statement, and your subordinates have confessed everything."

"If you have any further questions, you can ask them at the precinct."

Refusing to let Barnaby spin another lie, the officer added firmly, "Rest assured, given the sheer scale of these crimes, the trial will be public. We will not wrongfully convict an innocent man, but we certainly will not let a guilty one walk free."

Those words slammed the door on any defense. Barnaby and Sheryl had been ready to scream that Shanley was framing them, but the threat of a highly publicized, transparent trial choked the words right out of their throats. You couldn't fake evidence under public scrutiny.

"Mr. Yardley, Ms. Yardley, if you would please." The officers formed a barricade, their sharp eyes locked on the disgraced father and daughter.

"You planned all of this..." Barnaby stared at the damning mountain of evidence, the last remnants of his composed facade crumbling. He pointed a trembling finger at the couple on the sofa. "Shanley Schwartz, Juniper Payne... I will destroy you both for this!"

"No, I won't go! I won't go!" Sheryl panicked, violently thrashing against the officers who moved in to restrain her. She couldn't go to prison. She couldn't.

But the police were swift and unforgiving. They clamped down on the hysterical pair and dragged them out of the room.

"Let me go! Let me go!"

"You want to ruin me, Shanley?! My lawyers will bury you! Just you wait!"

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