Jaden calls Larry and tells him that the police have taken his mom, and Bethany had her arrested

 The rain lashed against the windows of the small apartment as Jaden sat on the floor, the glow of his phone the only light in the room. His hands were shaking so violently he nearly dropped the device twice before the call finally connected.

"Larry? Please pick up," Jaden whispered into the receiver.

On the other end, the line crackled with static before Larry’s groggy voice broke through. "Jaden? It’s three in the morning. What’s going on?"

"They took her, Larry. The police... they were just here," Jaden’s voice broke, a sob escaping before he could choke it back. "They handcuffed Mom in the hallway. She didn't even have her shoes on."

There was a heavy silence on the line as the weight of the words settled. Larry was suddenly wide awake, the sound of a rustling blanket signaling he was sitting up. "Wait, slow down. On what grounds? Why would they just show up like that?"

Jaden wiped his face with his sleeve, his breathing ragged. "It was Bethany. The officers had a statement—a full file. She went to the station tonight. She told them everything about the missing funds from the estate, and she brought proof. Larry, she had bank records I didn't even know existed."

"Bethany did this?" Larry’s voice was a mixture of disbelief and a growing, cold realization. "I knew she was angry, but to call the authorities without talking to us first? She knew what that would do to the family name."

"She doesn't care about the name anymore," Jaden said, looking at the empty space where his mother had been standing only twenty minutes prior. "She looked me right in the eye while they were putting her in the cruiser. She said it was the only way to make things right. Mom was screaming that it was a mistake, but Bethany just stood there on the sidewalk, watching."

Larry sighed, a long, weary sound that seemed to carry the burden of years of family friction. "Where are they taking her? The central precinct?"

"Yeah. I don’t know what to do. I can’t call Bethany—she blocked my number. I’m alone here, Larry."

"You're not alone," Larry said firmly, his tone shifting into one of practiced resolve. "Listen to me. Stay at the apartment. I’m calling the lawyer now, and then I’m driving over to pick you up. We’re going to figure out exactly what Bethany handed over to them. If there's a way to fix this, we'll find it."

Jaden leaned his head against the cold wall, closing his eyes. "I don't think this is something we can fix, Larry. The look on Bethany's face... she didn't look like she was seeking justice. She looked like she was saying goodbye."

"We’ll see about that," Larry replied, though his voice lacked its usual confidence. "Just stay put. I’ll be there in twenty minutes."

The line went dead, leaving Jaden in the silence of the empty home. Outside, the sirens had long since faded, replaced only by the steady, indifferent rhythm of the storm