CHAPTER 3 — THE RECORDING
The front door burst open.
Two Dallas police detectives walked inside.
Behind them came Detective Samuel Brooks.
Gray suit.
Calm eyes.
Leather briefcase.
He looked directly at me.
"You must be Claire."
I handed him the envelope.
"My father left this for you."
He opened the folder.
Within seconds his expression hardened.
"We've been investigating your father's death for eleven weeks."
Vanessa laughed nervously.
"His death was a heart attack."
Brooks pulled a document from the folder.
"No."
"It was ruled a heart attack."
He held up laboratory reports.
"Your father had unusually high levels of digitalis in his bloodstream."
The room froze.
Brooks continued.
"Digitalis can resemble natural heart failure."
Vanessa's smile finally disappeared.
Tyler slowly sat down.
"I didn't know..."
Vanessa turned toward him.
"Don't say another word."
Too late.
Tyler covered his face.
"I only changed the paperwork."
Everyone stared at him.
"I thought Mom just wanted control of the company."
He looked at me with tears in his eyes.
"I never knew she poisoned him."
Vanessa slapped him.
"You idiot!"
The detectives immediately stepped forward.
Brooks calmly said,
"Mrs. Whitmore..."
He produced a pair of handcuffs.
"...you're under arrest for suspected murder, elder abuse, fraud, forgery, unlawful imprisonment, and conspiracy."
Vanessa tried to run.
Marcus blocked the doorway with one step.
Within seconds the handcuffs clicked shut.
May you like
For the first time since I had arrived...
She looked afraid.
