Chapter 3

"Karen, today we’re taking you back to the scene for a walkthrough."

Captain Hayes stood at the holding cell doorway, his back rigid.

I looked at the heavy stab-proof vest in his hands.

"Is that for me?"

"It’s for protocol," he said flatly, "Even a suspect gets protected from mob justice."

When the police cruiser pulled up outside my house, the screaming started before I even put a foot on the pavement.

"Bring the murderer out!"

"Basement monster!"

"Get out of the way of the camera, let us see her face!"

The car door swung open. A rotten egg slammed against the shield of a riot officer, yellow sludge splattering across the back of my hand.

Then, someone threw rocks. Captain Hayes jerked his arm up to block it, the impact leaving a violent red mark across his wrist.

"Get back!" he bellowed at the mob, "Anyone crossing the police tape gets arrested on the spot!"

A man holding a phone high above his head screamed back, "You're still protecting her? She locked her own daughter in a hole for three years, where's your humanity?"

Captain Hayes pinned him with an icy glare. "The law doesn’t exist to serve your vigilante mob."

When they escorted me inside, Veronica was already standing in the middle of my living room.

She was dressed entirely in pristine white, a gold charity foundation pin gleaming on her lapel.

David stood right behind her, a thick manila folder in his grip.

"Karen," he murmured softly.

A wave of nausea hit me. "Don't say my name."

David let out a long sigh. "Even now, you're going to act this stubborn?"

Veronica stepped forward, holding out a document. "Karen, this is a formal relinquishment form for David's company shares. If you sign it, we'll hire the best defense team money can buy to make sure your sentence is lightened."

I looked at her. "You want to use my property to fund your charity act?"

Veronica leaned in, lowering her voice so only I could hear, a cruel smile touching the corners of her lips. "Don't make it sound so ugly. What do you even have left?"

David took a sharp step closer. "Don't you want to know where Claire's body is?"

My breath hitched violently, catching in my throat.

He stared directly into my eyes, his whisper deadly quiet.

"Sign the papers. Confess to the crime. And I’ll tell you where her body is before you spend the rest of your life in prison."

I clenched my hands into fists, the steel handcuffs biting deep into my skin.

Captain Hayes turned around sharply. "What are you two saying to her?"

Veronica's eyes flooded with tears instantly. "Captain, I was just pleading with her not to traumatize the victim any further."

Right on cue, the squeak of wheelchair tires echoed from the entryway. The rescued girl was wheeled into the room.

The moment her eyes landed on me, her entire body began to tremble violently. "No! Please! Don't let her look at me!"

A female officer dropped to one knee, stroking her hair. "We're here. Nobody is going to hurt you."

The girl suddenly sank her teeth into her own forearm, biting down hard. Dark red blood oozed out almost instantly.

"Mom said if I say one wrong word, I have to punish myself like this," she whimpered, "I won't do it again, I swear."

Outside, the livestreamers in the yard lost their minds entirely.

"She still refuses to plead guilty?"

"Look what she did to that poor girl!"

"Give her the death penalty!"

A middle-aged man wearing a hard hat was surrounded by reporters near the front steps. Someone introduced him as a famous local structural engineer named Mr. Brooks.

Mr. Brooks held up a blueprint roll, facing the lenses. "I just reviewed the renovation records for this house from three years ago. The load-bearing layout, the ventilation ducting of this basement, every single detail matches the owner's remodel permit."

A reporter pushed a microphone into his face. "So, Karen Vance definitely built the basement?"

Mr. Brooks adjusted his glasses. "From a professional standpoint, absolutely."

I looked over at Captain Hayes. "Who provided those blueprints?"

Mr. Brooks cut in before Captain Hayes could speak. "They were retrieved directly from the property management archives. Fully stamped and official."

"Who signed them?"

Mr. Brooks clicked his tongue in annoyance. "The homeowner, obviously. Karen Vance."

A cold laugh escaped my throat. "Did you ever see the original physical document?"

Mr. Brooks' expression darkened. "You’re a criminal suspect. Don’t question my credentials."

David chimed in immediately, "Mr. Brooks is a renowned expert in structural engineering. Are you going to slander experts now too?"

Veronica sighed delicately. "Karen, just admit what you did. Stop treating everyone like fools."

Suddenly, the crowd smashed through the perimeter line outside. A brick flew through the shattered window frame, flying straight toward my head.

Captain Hayes shoved me out of the way. The brick struck him dead center in the back with a terrifying, dull thud.

He stumbled forward, his knees buckling for a split second, but he managed to stay on his feet.

"Everyone fall back!" he ordered through gritted teeth, "Protect the scene! Secure the perimeter!"

I stared at the blood soaking through the fabric on his shoulder and back, then looked at David, whose face was barely hiding a look of triumph.

Veronica was still dabbing tears for the camera lenses. "Everyone please stay calm! The law will punish the wicked!"

I drew myself up, standing tall.

Captain Hayes frowned, wincing in pain. "Karen, don't move."

I lifted my head, locking eyes with David.

"You spent so much effort stacking all this perfect evidence. Did you ever consider that making it too perfect is exactly how you give yourselves away?"

David's face froze.

Veronica, however, let out a small laugh. "Karen, everything out of your mouth right now sounds like pathetic desperation."

I ignored her completely and turned my head toward Captain Hayes.

"Captain, get your officers to safety first."