Chapter 4
The cold winter wind rushed into the warmly lit living room, carrying a flurry of snowflakes that melted instantly upon hitting the hardwood floor. Officer Miller stepped inside, shaking the snow from the brim of his dark blue hat. He took in the chaotic scene: Clara sobbing hysterically on the sofa while clutching the infant in the green reindeer onesie, Marcus frozen midway across the room with a look of pure panic, and Arthur staring blankly at the floor where his cane had fallen.
Only Elena stood composed, offering the officer a polite, chillingly serene nod.
"Good evening, Officer," Elena said smoothly, stepping forward to block Marcus’s path. "We’ve been expecting you."
Officer Miller frowned, resting his hand casually on his belt near his radio. "Dispatch received an anonymous tip regarding a domestic disturbance and a potential child custody violation at this address. Is everyone alright here?"
"No, nothing is alright!" Clara cried out, struggling to her feet while keeping the baby pressed securely against her chest. "She took my baby! That woman—my own sister—stole my child from the hospital nursery and replaced him with someone else!"
Officer Miller’s eyes shifted sharply to Elena. He stepped further into the room, his boots leaving damp prints on the rug. "Ma'am? Is this true?"
Elena let out a soft sigh, feigning an expression of deep, sisterly sorrow. "Clara is deeply distraught, Officer. As you can see, she’s suffered a severe postpartum psychotic break. She’s been hallucinating all evening, claiming that the healthy infant she is holding isn't her own."
"You lying psychopath!" Marcus shouted, finally breaking past Elena. He stepped directly in front of the officer, his voice cracking with desperation. "She’s lying to you, Officer! Elena just admitted to us—to all of us—that she swapped the babies! Check her coat pocket! The paperwork is right there!"
Officer Miller looked between Marcus’s frantic expression and Elena’s cool, collected demeanor. He held up a gloved hand to pause the escalating shouting match. "Sir, calm down. Step back, please. Ma'am, do you mind if I check your coat?"
Elena tilted her head, a faint, confident smirk playing at the corners of her lips. She slowly reached into the pocket of her beige trousers and pulled out a folded white envelope, handing it over without hesitation.
May you like
"Be my guest, Officer," Elena murmured softly. "You’ll find my name isn't on any adoption paperwork. But you will find something very interesting regarding Marcus's secret financial accounts."
Officer Miller slit open the envelope with his thumb, pulling out a sheaf of papers. As his eyes scanned the first page, the color drained entirely from his face, and he slowly raised his gaze to look directly at Clara.
