Chapter 2: Cold Custody**
Detective Marcus Hayes pushed open the chapel doors just as Evelyn reached the side vestry. Two uniformed officers flanked him, their boots clicking firmly against the red carpet. Hayes was a veteran of the county homicide bureau—a man whose weathered eyes had seen every shade of human cruelty.
"Mrs. Evelyn Vance?" Hayes asked, his badge catching the amber candlelight. "Step away from the exit. Please keep your hands where we can see them."
"This is an outrageous intrusion!" Evelyn snapped, recovering a sliver of her venomous pride. "My family is mourning a tragedy! My son is delusional!"
Julian handed the plastic evidence bag directly to Hayes. "She slipped this into the nursery cabinets three weeks ago. My daughter Lily was in the playroom next door. Test that compound, Detective."
Hayes examined the white residue beneath the plastic. His expression darkened. "Arsenic trioxide mixed with powdered sedative. We received an anonymous tip two hours ago regarding unusual purchases linked to your private estate account, Mrs. Vance."
As the cold steel handcuffs clicked around Evelyn's wrists, the chapel erupted into muted gasps. Lily tugged Julian’s coat sleeve softly. "Daddy, is Grandma going to timeout?"
May you like
Julian knelt, tears finally spilling over his eyelashes, and wrapped his daughter in his arms. "Yes, sweetie. Grandma is going somewhere she can never hurt us again."
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