Chapter 13 - The Tipping Point
The heavy double doors burst open, but it wasn't hospital security who entered first.
It was Detective Miller, the head of the city's major crimes division, accompanied by three uniformed officers with weapons drawn. Behind them stood Dr. Harrison, looking pale but resolute, holding a secure digital tablet.
""Step away from her, Mr. Vance! Hands where we can see them!"" Miller ordered, his weapon aimed at Ethan.
Ethan slowly stood up, raising his hands, his gaze never leaving Eleanor. ""She tried to inject him. Look at the floor. The broken syringe is right there.""
Eleanor pushed herself up from the floor, smoothing her torn navy blouse with practiced grace. Her face instantly transformed from a snarling predator to a fragile, devastated matriarch. ""Detective Miller, thank God you're here. My son... he’s completely lost his mind. The trauma of Clara’s accident has driven him insane. He attacked me without warning.""
Miller looked between Eleanor and Ethan, his expression unreadable. For a terrifying moment, Ethan feared the detective was one of the men on Eleanor’s payroll.
""Is that so, Mrs. Vance?"" Miller said, lowering his firearm. He turned to Dr. Harrison. ""Doctor, would you care to share the hospital server logs you just pulled?""
Dr. Harrison stepped forward, glaring at Eleanor with righteous fury. ""Mrs. Vance, twenty minutes ago you attempted to log into our pharmacy dispensary terminal using the deceased Chief of Medicine’s credentials. We have your biometric scan and security footage at the terminal. You requisitioned concentrated potassium chloride.""
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Eleanor’s mask cracked. Her silver eyes widened as the realization hit her: she had been recorded.
""That's not all, Mrs. Vance,"" Miller added, pulling a pair of steel handcuffs from his belt. ""A search warrant was executed at Vance BioPharm thirty minutes ago. Your private investigator didn't burn Clara’s apartment fast enough. We have the logs.""
