CHAPTER 4 — THE TRUTH COMES DOWN THE STAIRS
CHAPTER 4 — THE TRUTH COMES DOWN THE STAIRS
Three days later Margaret returned home.
She insisted on walking into the mansion herself.
Cane.
Brace.
Broken ribs.
Unbroken pride.
Nathan invited everyone into the grand foyer.
Family attorneys.
Detective Benson.
House staff.
Vivien looked pleasantly confused.
"What's all this?"
Nathan pressed a button.
A television descended from the ceiling.
The forgotten security footage began to play.
Vivien's smile disappeared.
First came the library recording.
Then another recovered angle from the staircase hallway.
Not enough to capture the shove itself.
But enough.
Margaret stopped halfway down.
Vivien stepped close behind.
Both disappeared from view.
Less than one second later...
Margaret screamed.
Vivien calmly stepped back into frame.
No panic.
No attempt to catch her.
Only silence.
Then...
She screamed for help.
The timing was impossible to ignore.
Detective Benson stepped forward.
"Vivien Cole..."
"You are under arrest for attempted murder, fraud, and evidence tampering."
Vivien laughed.
A sharp, empty laugh.
"You have no proof."
Then a tiny voice answered from the staircase.
"I do."
Everyone turned.
Lily stood holding her stuffed rabbit.
She looked directly at Vivien.
"You pushed Grandma."
Silence swallowed the mansion.
Vivien's composure cracked for the first time.
"You stupid little—"
She stopped herself.
Too late.
May you like
Detective Benson heard enough.
So did Nathan.
