Chapter 6 - Confrontation in the Dark
Helen whipped around, her face turning pale as paper. Dr. Thorne, a skeletal man with sharp spectacles, reached toward a drawer in his desk, but Sam immediately raised his sidearm, dotting Thorne’s chest with a red laser sight.
"Hands on the desk, doctor," Sam commanded. "Move a finger, and you won't survive to stand trial."
Arthur Vance, David’s cousin, backed away toward the far corner of the room, his hands raised in surrender. "David! Listen to me! It was Helen’s idea! She recruited me! I didn't know she was poisoning Lily! I thought it was just a financial restructuring!"
"Liar!" Helen screamed, turning on Arthur. "You brought Thorne to me! You needed ten million dollars to clear your debt with the syndicate!"
David paid no attention to their desperate accusations. He walked slowly toward Helen. She shrank back against the desk, her former arrogance completely gone.
"Where is my wife’s locket, Helen?" David asked quietly.
Helen trembling, reached into her pocket and pulled out the small gold locket. She held it out with shaking hands. "David... please. I was desperate. Arthur threatened me... he forced me—"
David snatched the locket from her hand, holding it tightly in his fist.
"You are a pathetic monster," David said softly.
Outside, the sudden wail of police sirens cut through the rainy night. Red and blue lights began flashing through the frosted glass windows of the laboratory. Heavy footsteps echoed down the alleyway as state troopers stormed the building.
Detective Vance burst into the room, badge held high, followed by half a dozen armed officers.
"Julian Thorne, Helen Vance, Arthur Vance! Hands behind your heads! You are under arrest for conspiracy to commit murder, illegal distribution of controlled substances, and grand larceny!"
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As the officers slammed Helen down onto the desk to cuff her, she looked at David, her eyes wide with terror. "David! Don't let them take me! Please!"
David turned his back on her, walking out into the rain without looking back once.
