Chapter 7 - The Shattered Glass
The sound of splintering wood exploded through the tablet speakers like thunder.
Downstairs, the heavy oak front door was battered inward with a single strike from a steel ram.
""POLICE! SEARCH WARRANT! NOBODY MOVE!""
Screams echoed from the lower floor as heavy tactical boots hammered up the wooden staircase.
On the live bedroom feed, Eric and Jenna froze in absolute terror. The color drained from Eric’s face until he looked like a corpse. The stacks of hundred-dollar bills slipped from his fingers, scattering across the hardwood floor like confetti.
""What is that?!"" Jenna shrieked, backing toward the corner of the closet. ""Eric, what is that?!""
""The back window—go!"" Eric roared, shoving Jenna out of the closet and lunging toward the master bathroom.
He didn't make it two steps.
The master bedroom doors burst open. Four officers in full tactical gear, carbines raised, filled the room.
""DOWN ON THE GROUND! BOTH OF YOU! HANDS WHERE I CAN SEE THEM!""
""Wait! There's a misunderstanding!"" Eric shouted, raising his hands, his voice cracking into a high-pitched squeal. ""This is my house! I live here!""
An officer stepped forward, sweeping Eric’s legs out from under him. Eric slammed face-first onto the rug with a heavy grunt. His arms were wrenched behind his back, and the harsh, metallic snap of zip-cuffs echoed clearly through the room.
Jenna pressed herself flat against the wall, hyperventilating, tears streaking her makeup. ""Don't shoot! Please, don't shoot! I didn't do anything! It was him! It was all Eric, I swear to God!""
""Save it for the magistrate, Ms. Vance,"" Detective Walsh said, stepping through the doorway with his badge displayed on his tactical vest. He looked down at Eric, who was writhing against the floor, spitting fibers from the carpet.
""Eric Miller, you are under arrest for attempted aggravated murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and insurance fraud,"" Walsh stated with lethal calm. ""Jenna Vance, you are under arrest as an accessory before the fact to attempted aggravated murder and criminal conspiracy.""
""No!"" Jenna screamed, collapsing into hysterical sobs as a female officer pinned her wrists behind her back. ""Maya! You have to call Maya! She'll tell you! Eric forced me! He threatened me!""
Walsh knelt down beside Jenna, pulling the gold locket out of her open purse with a gloved hand. He clicked it open, letting the engraved words catch the light of the police flashlights.
""*Forever Starts Soon*,"" Walsh read aloud. ""Maya’s already seen it, Jenna. In fact, she’s watching you right now.""
Walsh pointed toward the smoke detector on the ceiling, where the tiny pinhole camera lens glowed with a faint, steady red dot.
Jenna looked directly into the camera. Her eyes widened in horrifying comprehension. Her face warped from panicked innocence into a contorted mask of ugly, venomous hatred.
""Maya!"" she shrieked directly into the lens. ""You crippled bitch! You ruined my life! You always had everything! Mother loved you more! Eric loved me! Do you hear me?! He never loved you! You were supposed to die on that ramp!""
The officer hoisted Jenna roughly to her feet, wrenching her toward the hallway. ""That's enough out of you. Move.""
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On my hospital bed, I reached out with a steady finger and tapped the red button on my tablet screen. The feed cut to black.
The silence that filled my room was the cleanest, purest air I had breathed in three long weeks.
