Chapter 2 - The Silent Ward
Sirens tore through the afternoon mist outside the chapel.
Three unmarked tactical cruisers and two emergency trauma ambulances skidded onto the wet cobblestones of the church courtyard. State troopers and tactical paramedics swarmed the nave, weapons raised, securing the perimeter before anyone in the pews could flee.
"Nobody moves!" Detective Marcus Kane barked, flashing his gold badge as his team surrounded the altar. "This entire facility is now an active homicide scene and federal crime jurisdiction."
Paramedics swarmed the casket, lifting Claire onto a stretcher and immediately fitting her with an oxygen mask and intravenous saline. Claire clung to Noah’s red sleeve, refusing to let go until the gurney was rolled into the aisle.
"Keep him with me," Claire whispered through the plastic mask, her dark eyes locking onto Detective Kane. "Noah knew... he found the laboratory logs."
Daniel attempted to slip toward the private vestry door, but two state troopers blocked his path with crossed tactical shotguns.
"Daniel Sterling," Kane said, stepping in front of the groom-turned-brother. "Your sister was officially declared deceased on Tuesday at 4:15 PM following an apparent acute respiratory arrest at your private estate. Care to explain why her signature on the company's asset transfer was stamped forty-eight hours after her supposed death?"
Daniel’s jaw twitched. "My sister was suffering from severe psychiatric depression. She signed those corporate documents over to me weeks ago. Noah is an ex-convict and a disgruntled former lab technician who has fabricated—"
"Noah didn't fabricate the autopsy report, Daniel," Kane interrupted, pulling a manila folder from his overcoat. "Nor did he fabricate the encrypted transaction logs we pulled from your offshore shell corporation in Zurich thirty minutes ago. You paid Dr. Julian Ward two point four million dollars to certify a false death."
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Dr. Ward dropped to his knees against the communion altar, sobbing into his hands. "He told me she would never wake up! He said the dosage was permanent! I didn't know she was being buried alive!"
"Cuff them both," Kane ordered coldly.
