Chapter 6 - The Storm Breaks In
Ricardo reached down with his right hand and lifted Bia onto his hip.
With his left hand, he kept the phone high, still displaying the video index.
"Unlock the doors," Ricardo ordered the trembling church security guard.
The guard scrambled to pull back the heavy iron bolt.
The chapel doors flew open with a deafening bang.
Six armed officers in tactical gear rushed into the nave, followed by Detective Miller.
Detective Miller was a veteran homicide investigator with a stone-cold expression.
Behind the police stood two men in black suits with government badges:
Federal investigators from the financial crimes division.
"Nobody moves!" Detective Miller shouted, sweeping the room.
His eyes locked instantly onto the scene at the altar.
Shattered glass, crushed white lilies, Helena covered in dirt and pollen.
And Ricardo holding a terrified child with a glowing phone.
Helena immediately pointed a shaking finger at Ricardo.
"Detective! Arrest him!" Helena cried out, trying to regain her poise.
"He locked us inside! He assaulted me and disrupted this sacred memorial!"
Detective Miller didn't even look at Helena.
He walked straight past her, his boots crunching over broken glass.
He stopped in front of Ricardo and extended his hand.
"You have the evidence, Ricardo?" Miller asked calmly.
Ricardo handed the military-grade smartphone directly to the detective.
"Everything is on that drive," Ricardo said.
"Clara's video testimony, lab results from Boston, and timestamped audio recordings."
Detective Miller slipped on sterile latex gloves before handling the phone.
He tapped the screen, glancing at the file names.
"We already have a warrant, Helena," Detective Miller said, turning around.
Helena froze.
"A warrant for what?" she gasped.
"Two hours ago, Boston Labs flagged Clara's alias sample to the state police," Miller said.
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"A search team just entered your penthouse on Fifth Avenue."
"They found the thallium vial inside your vanity twenty minutes ago."
