Chapter 6 - The Sirens
The silence in the mansion was shattered by the distant, rising wail of police sirens.
Vanessa, still sobbing on Evelyn's shoulder, froze. Her crying stopped instantly. "Sirens? Did... did someone call 911?"
Evelyn frowned, looking toward the heavy front doors. "I didn't call yet. I was going to call our private physician first so the press wouldn't—"
BAM! BAM! BAM!
The heavy oak double doors rattled violently on their hinges.
"Police! Open the door!" a voice boomed from the porch.
Before Evelyn could even take a step, the front doors were forced open with a master breach tool. Four uniformed officers flooded the entryway, sidearms drawn, followed by Detective Ruiz and three EMT paramedics carrying a heavy trauma kit and a gurney.
"Step back! Nobody move!" Ruiz barked, his gold badge flashing under the chandelier lights.
"Thank God you're here!" Vanessa cried out, immediately running down the steps toward the officers, tears streaming down her face again. "Officer, she attacked me! She fell while trying to push me down the stairs! She’s hysterical, she needs to be taken to a psychiatric ward immediately!"
Ruiz didn't even look at Vanessa. He walked straight past her to where Elena lay on the marble floor.
"Paramedics, on her now," Ruiz ordered sharply.
The lead EMT knelt beside Elena, checking her pulse, pupils, and fetal heart monitor. Elena kept her eyes closed, groaning softly, playing the concussed victim to absolute perfection.
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"Detective," Evelyn Howard said with icy authority, stepping forward. "I am Evelyn Howard. This is a private family matter. My daughter-in-law had an unfortunate tumble due to her unstable condition. We have our own medical team en route. You have no right to barge into my home like this."
Ruiz pulled a signed document from his jacket. "This is a federal search and arrest warrant, Mrs. Howard. And we’re not here for a slip-and-fall."
