Arthur and Kemper watched in absolute stunned silence as the $200,000 masterpiece rocketed over the grass and slammed headon into a thick, unyielding concrete retaining wall bordering the oak tree. The sound of the impact was catastrophic. Carbon fiber shattered into a thousand pieces. The airbags deployed with an explosive bang, filling the cabin with white powder. The front fascia of the Roma collapsed inward.
The beautiful grill completely annihilated. Radiator fluid instantly hissed as it poured onto the hot engine block, sending a thick plume of white steam into the air. Officer Gregory Stanton had just totaled a federal asset. A heavy, suffocating silence fell over the affluent street, broken only by the aggressive hissing of steam escaping the ruined engine bay of the Ferrari Roma. Fluid pulled onto the pavement and grass, mixing with shattered fragments of silver blue bodywork.
Inside the wrecked cabin, Stanton gasped for air, coughing against the acrid dust of the deployed airbags. He tumbled out of the driver's seat, stumbling onto the grass, his uniform covered in white powder, his face flushed with a mixture of terror and unbridled fury, he looked at the mangled wreckage of the quarter million dollar machine. Realizing instantly that this was a careerending disaster, unless, of course, he could shift the blame, Stanton's panic rapidly metabolized into rage. He unholstered his taser, pointing it directly at Arthur's chest. Get on the ground.
On the ground right now, you booby trapped the vehicle. Arthur Pendleton did not flinch. He slowly lowered his hands from the roof of the now destroyed car, his dark eyes locking onto Stanton's trembling form. The absurdity of the accusation would have been laughable if the situation weren't so volatile. Officer Stanton," Arthur said, his voice dropping an octave, carrying an icy commanding authority that immediately caught Rookie Keer off guard.
"You illegally entered my vehicle. You started the ignition without my consent. You engaged the transmission and accelerated into a wall." "I have been standing here the entire time. Shut your mouth."
Stanton roared, his finger twitching on the taser trigger. Kemper, cuff him. He rigged the gears. He was trying to kill a police officer. Kemper hesitated, his face pale as a ghost.
He looked from the steaming wreckage to Stanton and then to Arthur, who was standing perfectly still, displaying a level of composure that was utterly unnatural for a civilian who had just watched their luxury car get obliterated. Greg, he didn't do anything. Kemper stammered, stepping forward cautiously. I watched the whole thing. You hit the gas.
Cuff him or I'll have your badge too. Kemper Stanton screamed, spittle flying from his lips. Arthur, recognizing the dangerous instability of the senior officer, slowly lowered himself to his knees and placed his hands behind his head. Do as he says, Officer Kemper. Let's make sure everything is done strictly by the book from this moment forward.
Keer approached with his handcuffs drawn, apologizing in a frantic whisper as he secured the metal cuffs around Arthur's wrists. "I'm sorry, man. I'm so sorry. I don't know what he's doing. It's going to be fine, son," Arthur replied quietly, feeling the cold steel lock into place.