Chapter 9 - THE MAN WHO BROKE THE PLATE
Preston Cain was arrested six weeks later.
The charges included fraud-related offenses and conspiracy allegations tied to the redevelopment scheme.
Daniel Vance and several associates were also investigated.
The evidence from the memory card and Adeline's records helped investigators reconstruct the transactions.
The case attracted enormous attention.
Small business owners came forward.
Families described being pressured out of leases.
Former employees testified about falsified documents.
Hollis Brennan watched the news from his kitchen.
Dale stood beside him.
Adeline sat at the table.
The restored porcelain plate rested on a padded stand.
Its cracks were visible.
But the pieces held together.
Hollis looked at it.
Then at Adeline.
"You brought it back."
She smiled.
"I couldn't make it new."
He shook his head.
"I didn't ask you to."
Later, Enzo visited Preston Cain in a monitored legal setting.
Cain looked exhausted.
His confidence had vanished.
"You ruined me," Cain said.
Enzo stared.
"No."
He placed a copy of the financial report on the table.
"You did."
Cain looked away.
Enzo continued.
"You humiliated a woman who was returning a wallet."
Silence.
"You broke a plate that meant more to an old man than any of your buildings."
Cain swallowed.
"And you used my companies to hurt people."
Cain stared at the floor.
Then whispered:
"I didn't think anyone would care."
Enzo's expression hardened.
"That was your mistake."
Enzo stood.
Cain called after him.
"What happens now?"
Enzo turned.
May you like
"Now you answer for what you've done."
And for the first time in years, Preston Cain had no powerful name left to hide behind.
