Chapter 4 - Locked in the Dark

The cold concrete floor stung Maria’s scraped knees through her thin maid uniform.

She sat in the dim light of the police interrogation room, her hands handcuffed to a metal table.

Detective Miller slammed a thick manila folder onto the table in front of her.

"Explain this, Maria," Detective Miller commanded sternly.

"Explain why you took a sledgehammer to a grieving widow's casket."

"She isn't dead!" Maria screamed, leaning forward until the cuffs yanked her wrists back.

"I saw her hand move!"

"I heard her breathing inside that box!"

"Arthur Sterling is poisoning her!"

Detective Miller shook his head with disgust and pulled out a stack of documents.

"These are certified medical records from St. Jude’s Hospital," Miller said, tossing them over.

"Emily Sterling died of cardiac arrest four days ago."

"Signed by Dr. Richard Vance, one of the most respected physicians in the state."

"Dr. Vance is in on it!" Maria pleaded, her voice cracking with desperation.

"Arthur paid him off!"

"Check the casket again, please!"

"If you go to the funeral home right now, you’ll see the blood on the wood!"

Detective Miller leaned in close, his face hard as stone.

"The casket was retrieved by her husband ten minutes ago," Miller said flatly.

"He is having her privately cremated tonight to protect her from any further madness."

Maria’s breath caught in her throat as total horror washed over her.

"Cremated?!" Maria gasped, her eyes bulging with terror.

"No! They're going to burn her alive!"

"You're insane, Maria," Detective Miller snapped, standing up from his chair.

"Arthur Sterling is a grieving philanthropist."

"And you are going to prison for attempted body desecration and assault."

"Listen to me!" Maria screamed, slamming her cuffed hands against the table.

"If you let him cremate that body tonight, you are helping him commit murder!"

The detective walked out of the room, slamming the heavy steel door behind him.

The lock clicked shut with a sharp, final sound.

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Maria collapsed onto the metal table, sobbing hysterically into her arms.

She was the only person who knew the truth, and she was trapped behind locked doors.