Chương 6 - The Deputy's Discretion
Deputy Miller did not hesitate once the words left my mouth. He unclipped his radio, calling for backup and an ambulance, his voice clipped and efficient against the background hiss of the static. He gestured for me to sit in the passenger seat of the cruiser, but I refused, my fingers still gripping the paper napkin containing the vial. The cold metal of the vehicle's fender was the only thing keeping me grounded as the numbness in my left leg began to creep upward toward my hip. Every heartbeat felt heavy, a slow, sluggish thud against my ribs that reminded me of the ticking clock I was running against.
"She's a prominent family member," I said, my teeth chattering despite the mild night air. "If the local authorities arrive with sirens blazing, she'll have the staff destroy the security footage before anyone reaches the ballroom. The family holds contracts with half the county council."
Miller paused, his hand hovering over the door handle. He looked at me, assessing the frantic panic in my voice against the pristine lace of my ruined dress. "If what you're saying is true, ma'am, we need chain of custody on that vial right now. I'm securing it in an evidence bag. Where did you say she put the other one?"
"She had it in her silver clutch," I replied, watching as he pulled a clear plastic pouch from his glove compartment. I carefully slid the glass tube off the napkin and into the plastic, sealing it shut. "She slipped it in right after she dropped the liquid in my glass. The ballroom is on the third floor of the West Wing. My husband is still in there, and he doesn't know anything. He thinks she's just an eccentric matriarch."
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"We'll secure the perimeter quietly," Miller said, sliding the evidence bag into a locked metal box in his trunk. "No sirens until we're inside the service elevators. Can you walk, Mrs. Vance? Or do I need to call for a stretcher?"
I tested my weight on my left foot. The numbness was a dull, heavy anchor, but sheer adrenaline burned hot enough to override it. I clenched my jaw, forced a stiff nod, and stepped away from the cruiser. "I can walk. Let's go before she realizes I'm not coming back."
