Chapter 10: The Detective’s Arrival
Detective Miller walked slowly into the amber light of the loft, his boots making a heavy, deliberate sound against the floor. He glanced briefly at Dr. Vance, then at Julian and Evelyn, before finally fixing his tired eyes on Clara.
“Mrs. Hayes,” Miller said, his voice gravelly and low. “The hospital called in a missing person report twenty minutes ago. Dr. Vance here filed an emergency psychiatric hold, claiming you wandered off while suffering from severe delusions.”
“And you believed him, Detective?” Clara asked, her chin lifting defiantly. She didn't flinch as Miller stepped closer. “Did Vance also tell you about the tampered brake lines on my sedan? Did he mention the phantom data logs from the clinical trials?”
Miller didn't answer immediately. He reached into his trench coat pocket and pulled out a small notepad, flipping a few pages back. “The initial accident report listed mechanical failure due to wet road conditions. However, the forensics team re-examined the steering knuckle three days ago after an anonymous tip was filed.” He paused, looking directly at Dr. Vance. “The tip indicated deliberate tampering with the hydraulic fluid lines.”
Vance’s face remained a mask of professional serenity, though a faint muscle twitched near his jaw. “An anonymous tip is hardly actionable evidence, Detective. Anyone with a grudge against the hospital could fabricate a narrative to undermine our upcoming funding vote.”
“True,” Miller agreed slowly. He looked back at Clara, then at the flash drive still clutched in her hand. “That’s why I’m here. Not to arrest Mrs. Hayes on a psychiatric warrant, but to secure whatever evidence is on that drive under a federal preservation order.”
Julian exhaled a long, shaky breath, the tension in his shoulders easing just a fraction. He looked at his mother, whose expression remained guarded. Evelyn crossed her arms, her teal suit jacket rustling as she watched the detective closely.
“How do we know you’re not on the board’s payroll, Detective?” Evelyn asked, her tone razor-sharp. “A hospital of that size has deep pockets and long reach.”
May you like
Miller offered a faint, humorless smile. “If I were on their payroll, Mrs. Hayes, I wouldn't have spent my Sunday night driving out to a rundown loft in the rain. I’d be sitting at home watching the game. The truth is, too many files have gone missing from the precinct evidence locker this week. I trust my own chain of custody better than the hospital's internal security.”
Clara looked at Miller for a long moment, assessing the weariness in his eyes, the mud on his shoes, and the genuine resolve in his posture. Slowly, she extended her hand and placed the silver flash drive onto the open palm of the detective’s hand.
