Chapter 4 - The Arrest
Mark’s eyes darted frantically around the empty basement, landing on the broken titanium padlock and then looking up at me. For a split second, the polished corporate executive vanished, replaced by a cornered, feral animal.
"Helen," he stammered, his voice cracking. "Helen, you don't understand. Sarah... Sarah is sick. She’s having a severe psychotic break. I had to restrain her for her own safety! She was going to hurt herself!"
"Save the performance," I said, descending the stairs slowly, my weapon pointed squarely at his chest. Behind me, the two undercover detectives poured into the house, their flashlights cutting through the gloom.
"Put your hands on your head and interlace your fingers. Now."
"You're making a mistake!" Mark shouted, his panic turning to rage. "I am her husband! You can't just break into my house! I'll sue you, Helen! I'll take your pension!"
One of the detectives stepped past me, grabbing Mark roughly by the collar and spinning him around, slamming him against the concrete wall. The heavy click of steel handcuffs echoed through the cellar.
"Mark Davis, you are under arrest for kidnapping, false imprisonment, aggravated assault, and attempted murder," I said, my voice echoing off the damp walls. I stepped in close, so close I could smell his expensive cologne mixing with his nervous sweat.
"Attempted murder?" he scoffed, though his eyes betrayed his terror. "You're crazy. You have no proof of anything."
"I found the life insurance policies, Mark," I whispered softly. "I found the sedative logs. I found the cameras. You were going to overdose her and claim she finally lost her mind. But you forgot one crucial detail."
"What?" he spat, struggling against the cuffs.
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"You married the daughter of a homicide detective," I replied, stepping back. "Get this garbage out of my sight."
As they dragged him up the stairs, kicking and screaming legal threats, I finally let out the breath I had been holding for two weeks. The monster was in a cage. Now, the real war was about to begin.
