Chapter 11
The door banged against the concrete wall with a sharp crack that made Lily stir in her carrier. Standing in the doorway was District Attorney Robert Vance—no relation to Mark, but a lifelong political ally of Evelyn Sterling. His tailored charcoal suit looked immaculate, contrasting sharply with the bleak, institutional gray of the police station.
“Detective Miller,” the District Attorney said, his voice dripping with forced authority as he stepped directly into the room. “What is the meaning of this? I received an urgent call from Mrs. Sterling’s legal team stating that stolen property belonging to her corporation is currently being withheld in this room.”
Miller stood up slowly from his chair, his hand instinctively covering the flash drive resting on his notepad. “Mr. Vance, this is an active witness interview regarding an ongoing financial fraud and homicide investigation.”
“Homicide?” The D.A. scoffed, stepping closer to the table and glaring down at Clara with undisguised contempt. “The coastal crash was officially ruled an accidental traffic incident by the state highway patrol three weeks ago. There is no homicide investigation here, Detective. Only a disgruntled widow attempting to blackmail a prominent philanthropist.”
Clara felt a hot surge of anger rise in her chest, but she forced herself to breathe slowly, remembering the restrained discipline Mark had taught her before he died. She adjusted the pink blanket around Lily, keeping her voice ice-cold as she addressed the politician.
“You mean the philanthropist who funds your reelection campaigns every year?” Clara asked, her tone dripping with quiet sarcasm.
District Attorney Vance’s face flushed a dark, mottled red. He slammed his palm onto the metal table, leaning over Clara with an intimidating posture. “Watch your tongue, Mrs. Vance. You are talking to the chief law enforcement officer of this county. Hand over whatever property you illegally removed from that house right now, or I will personally sign a warrant for your arrest for burglary and child endangerment, and your daughter will be placed in state protective custody within the hour.”
The threat hung in the air like poison. Clara looked down at Lily, whose big, innocent eyes were blinking sleepily up at the harsh fluorescent lights. The state taking her baby—that was Evelyn’s ultimate weapon, designed to break Clara’s spirit completely.
May you like
Detective Miller slowly removed his hand from the flash drive, looking between the powerful District Attorney and the exhausted young mother sitting across from him. The tension in the room was so thick it felt tangible.
“Mr. Vance,” Miller said slowly, his voice laced with dangerous calm. “I haven’t booked the evidence into inventory yet. But I have watched the security footage from the highway tolls on the night of the crash. And I think you’ll find the federal marshals downstairs are very interested in seeing it too.”
