“Adrian Cross,” Detective Cole announced, pulling him upright, “you are under arrest for the murder of Claire Cross and her unborn child.”
Adrian thrashed wildly.
“You think you’ve won?” he screamed at me. “That company belongs to me!”
I stared at him calmly.
“You built nothing,” I said quietly. “You inherited power. And now you’ve lost it.”
As officers dragged him down the aisle, Vanessa suddenly tried to flee through a side exit.
They caught her immediately.
“Vanessa Hale,” an officer announced, placing her in cuffs, “you are under arrest for conspiracy to commit murder and corporate fraud.”
She collapsed into sobs as they led her away.
The church doors slammed shut behind them.
The reporters rushed outside to break the story. Board members were already making frantic phone calls. Mourners slowly left the pews, too stunned to speak.
Soon only Walter, my sister, and I remained.
I turned back toward Claire’s coffin.
My shaking hand rested against the polished wood.
My daughter knew they were coming for her.
And instead of surrendering, she prepared evidence. She protected the truth. She made sure I would have the weapons necessary to destroy them after she was gone.
She fought smart.
