Chapter 4: B: Threaten Marcus

👉 [Previous Decision]: You chose Option B – Threaten Marcus with public exposure on the podcast.

Marcus Pendelton tried to disappear after our conversation in the lobby, but I cornered him by the service elevator.

“You’re hiding something, Marcus,” I stated, my voice low and firm. “That fear on your face tells me everything.”

He flinched, his shoulders hunching. “I told you, there’s nothing.”

“There’s the hum of that basement on a recording about political murders,” I countered. “And your uncle Arthur is trying to silence me. I’m going to put it all on the podcast. Your name, his name, the building. Everything.”

Marcus’s eyes widened, a mixture of terror and betrayal flashing in them. “You wouldn’t.”

“Try me,” I said, a bluff I hoped would pay off. “Midnight tonight. *Capitol Confidential* goes live with the full story of what’s happening in this brownstone.”

He stood frozen for a moment, then something in his expression hardened. He pulled out his phone.

“Uncle Arthur,” he said into the receiver, his voice tight. “It’s Marcus. Kross just threatened to go live with everything. He knows about the basement. He’s going to name names.”

My blood ran cold. The bluff had failed. Terribly.

An hour later, a notice was slipped under my studio door. “Emergency Eviction Order. Due to gross violations of lease agreement and intent to defame property owners. All personal property to be vacated within one hour. Any remaining items will be considered abandoned.”

Arthur Pendelton himself stood downstairs, Evelyn at his side, Sheriff Thaddeus leaning against a squad car at the curb.

“It seems you’ve overplayed your hand, Mr. Kross,” Arthur said, a thin smile playing on his lips. “We own this building. We own your lease. And now, we own your possessions.”

A team of movers, hired by Arthur, began emptying my studio. My laptop, my microphone, my carefully organized notes – all tossed into boxes and labeled for impound. I was locked out, my entire investigation confiscated.