Chapter 7 - The Interrogation
In Interrogation Room 2 of the Central Precinct, Chloe Linley Vance sat under the glare of industrial lights, wearing a bright orange county jail jumpsuit. Her sleek bridal manicure was already chipped, her hair tangled, her eyes ringed with dark circles.
Across the metal table sat Arthur Sterling, a high-priced criminal defense attorney hired by her panicked parents.
Detective Miller entered the room, carrying a thick manila folder, and dropped it onto the metal table with a heavy thud.
"My client has nothing to say, Detective," Sterling said smoothly, adjusting his cufflinks. "This is an unfortunate domestic accident. A silly prank at a private wedding that resulted in unintended minor injuries. We are prepared to offer restitution for the medical bills in exchange for a full dismissal of all charges."
Miller pulled out a chair and sat down slowly. He didn't look at the lawyer. He locked his eyes directly onto Chloe.
"Minor injuries?" Miller asked. He opened the folder and slid a large, glossy 8x10 photograph across the table.
It was a close-up forensic photo of my open wound taken in the trauma bay, showing the razor edge protruding from my severed muscle tissue.
Chloe flinched, quickly averting her gaze.
"Don't look away, Chloe," Miller said softly. "Take a good look at your masterpiece."
"Detective, that's enough," Sterling warned.
"We pulled the security footage from Grandview Manor’s catering prep kitchen," Miller continued, leaning forward. "At 6:15 PM, fifteen minutes before the cake-cutting, you slipped away from the cocktail hour. You went into the pantry where the dessert cart was stationed. You spent three minutes adjusting the bottom tier with a pair of needle-nose pliers you had stashed in your purse."
Chloe’s throat swallowed hard. Her lips twitched.
"We also executed a search warrant on your vehicle," Miller added. "In the trunk, inside your spare tire compartment, we found the remaining blades from the multi-pack. Your fingerprints are all over the packaging. The steel matches the chemical and metallurgical composition of the shards Dr. Evans removed from your sister’s face."
"She was always grandfather's favorite!" Chloe suddenly exploded, her voice screeching across the small room as she slammed her cuffed hands against the table.
"Chloe, shut up!" Sterling snapped, lunging forward.
"No! Shut up, Arthur!" she screamed, her face flushed with venomous rage. "She never worked for anything! I was the one who did pageants! I was the one who married into the Vance family! I gave everyone what they wanted! And Grandpa gave that entire portfolio to *her*? To little, quiet, pathetic Maya?"
Detective Miller sat back, a cold, satisfied expression settling over his face.
The audio and video recording light in the corner of the ceiling blinked steadily in green.
"She was going to take everything from me," Chloe whispered, breathing heavily, tears of spite spilling down her cheeks. "I just wanted to make sure she couldn't stand in front of clients anymore. I wanted her to look as broken as she made me feel."
Sterling put his face in his hands, shaking his head. "God help us."
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"Interview concluded at 1:42 PM," Miller said calmly, standing up. "Aggravated mayhem. Attempted grievous bodily harm. Premeditated corporate fraud. Enjoy your stay, Mrs. Vance."
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