RISE OF OLIVER WILSON

Chapter 10

Liam Wilson’s footsteps echoed down the sterile hallway of the Springdale Police Station as he made his way to the front desk. The evening air was cool, but inside, the temperature felt suffocating. He had been driving in silence for what felt like hours, and the thought of seeing his brother locked up behind bars filled him with anger. Oliver, his older brother, had been arrested for theft, a crime Liam couldn’t believe. The accusations didn’t match the person Oliver was—or at least, the person he used to know.

The place smelled of bleach and cold steel. He stood in front of the desk, where a woman in a navy blue uniform was busy typing into the computer.

“I’m here to see my brother, Oliver Wilson,” Liam said, trying to keep his voice even.

The officer barely looked up. “Name?”

“Liam Wilson,” he answered, his tone more clipped than he intended.

The officer typed something into the computer, then gave him a short nod. “You’ll have to wait. Officer Moore will be with you shortly.”

Liam nodded and stepped aside, crossing his arms. He hated waiting. The tension in his body was unbearable, every second adding to the sense of dread that had settled in his chest since he first heard the news of Oliver’s arrest. He paced back and forth, his mind running through the possibilities. He couldn’t shake the image of Oliver—his brother, the one who had always been the free spirit, the one who defied expectations—now behind bars, accused of something he didn’t do.

The door opened behind the desk, and a tall man stepped through. Detective Moore, with his square jaw and a look that screamed authority, walked toward Liam. His eyes scanned Liam briefly before settling on him.

“You’re the one here for the Oliver boy, huh?” Moore said, his tone dismissive.

Liam tried to keep his voice calm. “Yes. I’m here to bail out my brother. Where is he?”

Moore’s lips twisted into a thin smile, one that didn’t reach his eyes. “Your brother’s in pretty deep, young man. Theft charges, evidence stacking up against him. He’s not getting out anytime soon. So, if you’re thinking of bailing him out, forget it.”

Liam’s pulse quickened, his temper flaring. “What do you mean, ‘forget it’? You don’t get to make that decision. He’s my brother, and I’m getting him out of here. Now.”

Moore crossed his arms, standing a little straighter. “The evidence is overwhelming. We’ve got CCTV footage, fingerprints, all the works. He’s guilty. There’s no way he’s getting out on bail, and frankly, I can’t let him talk to a lawyer. Not with everything we’ve got on him.”

Liam’s hands clenched into fists, his jaw tightening as his anger built. He took a step closer to Moore, his voice cold but seething. “You don’t understand. My brother has rights. I’m not leaving here without him. Get me a lawyer, and let him out on bail. Now.”

Moore stood his ground, shaking his head. “I’m telling you, it’s not going to happen. This isn’t a simple case. Your brother’s in more trouble than you think.”

Liam’s frustration boiled over. His patience was running out. This was his brother, and he wasn’t going to let some dismissive detective get in the way. His eyes narrowed, and his voice grew icy as he spoke again. “You think I don’t know how this works? You’re not talking to just anyone, Moore. I’m Liam Wilson—son of Charles Wilson, the richest man in Springdale. And I can make a few phone calls that’ll have you and your department wishing you never had to deal with this.”

Moore’s smirk faltered, his eyes widening in surprise. “Wait… you’re the son of Charles Wilson?”

Liam nodded while bringing out his ID, his expression stone-cold. “Yes. So unless you want to deal with my father’s lawyers and his influence, you’ll get my brother out of here and give him access to a lawyer. Now.”

Moore took a small step back, his face going pale. For the first time, Liam saw the detective’s confidence crack. The detective’s eyes darted between Liam and the door to the back rooms, where Oliver was being held.

“I—I didn’t realize…” Moore stammered, suddenly much less certain of himself. “I’ll… I’ll make the call. We’ll get everything sorted, Mr. Wilson.”

Liam gave him a sharp nod, his voice quieter but still full of authority. “Thank you.”

A few moments later, Liam stood by the front desk, waiting. His fingers drummed impatiently on the counter. He could hear the murmur of voices in the back, but his attention was fixed on the door where Oliver would soon appear.

When the door finally swung open, Liam’s breath caught. There, standing in front of him, was Oliver.

His older brother was a shadow of the person he used to be. His clothes were wrinkled, his face drawn with exhaustion, and his eyes looked lost. But when their eyes met, something shifted between them. A quiet understanding passed through the space.

Oliver stood there for a moment, his gaze lingering on Liam, as if he wasn’t sure if he could believe what he was seeing. Then, without a word, Liam stepped forward and pulled him into a brief, tight hug. The gesture was quiet, but meaningful. The tension of the last few hours melted away, if only for a moment.

Neither of them spoke immediately. There were no grand words, no explanations. Just the simple, unspoken relief of being reunited. Liam pulled away slightly, glancing at Oliver’s face, his expression a mixture of exhaustion and frustration.

“You good?” Liam asked quietly, his voice soft but steady.

Oliver nodded slowly, though his eyes didn’t meet Liam’s. “I guess. This isn’t how I thought things would go, Liam. I didn’t think it’d end like this.”

Liam’s chest tightened. “You didn’t do this, Oliver. We’ll figure it out, okay? We’ll get through this. You’ve got me. Always.”

Oliver gave a short, almost bitter laugh. “I don’t even know where to start anymore.” His gaze wandered to the floor, and for a moment, he seemed lost in his own thoughts.