Chapter 4 - The Arrest of the Matriarch
The mention of potassium chloride instantly changed the atmosphere in the room. The lead officer dropped his hand from Jax’s handcuffs, his eyes darting from Jax to Eleanor. The chemical was a fast-acting cardiac arrest agent, nearly untraceable in standard post-mortem toxicology if masked by fermented tannins.
“Mrs. Vance,” the lieutenant said, his tone turning sharply formal as he addressed Eleanor. “Step away from the table immediately.”
Eleanor’s facade finally cracked completely, the elegant veneer dissolving into sheer panic. She grabbed the edge of the mahogany sideboard for support, her pearl necklace bouncing against her chest. “This is a setup! Jax manufactured this evidence! He brought the chemicals into the house himself to frame me!”
“I’ve been handcuffed for the last two minutes, Officer,” Jax pointed out reasonably, rubbing his wrists once the officer removed the restraints. “Unless I can tamper with evidence through sheer telepathy, your theory holds no weight, Mother.”
Marcus tried to ease toward the hallway, but the second officer blocked his exit, resting a hand firmly on his baton. “Where do you think you’re going, sir? You’re part of this household, which makes you a material witness to an attempted homicide.”
“I’m just an accountant,” Marcus stammered, sweating profusely under his tailored black suit. “I don't know anything about chemicals or family feuds. I was just invited for dinner.”
“Dinner where the guest of honor was scheduled to have a fatal heart attack before midnight,” Jax finished for him, walking over to pick up little Lily, who was still peering out from the hallway with wide, frightened eyes. He scooped her up gently, resting her curly blonde head against his black suit jacket, whispering soothing words into her ear.
“You’re coming with us, Mrs. Vance,” the lieutenant stated, pulling out a pair of steel cuffs. “And you as well, Mr. Hayes. Both of you are under arrest for conspiracy to commit murder.”
Eleanor let out a sharp gasp as the cold metal locked around her wrists, ruining the pristine fabric of her gold beaded dress. As they led her past Jax, she glared at him with venomous hatred.
“You are destroying everything your grandfather built,” she hissed as they guided her toward the front door. “When the board sees this scandal, they will strip you of your title and cast you out with nothing.”
“Let them try,” Jax replied without blinking.
May you like
As the police escort cleared the mansion, taking Eleanor and Marcus into the freezing night air, Jax carried Lily back toward the quiet warmth of the library, unaware that an envelope left behind on the desk was about to turn his entire world upside down.
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