Chapter 3 - The Arrest
Detective Harris was a middle-aged man with sharp eyes who did not like having his time wasted.
He led Grant, Evan, and me into a small, sterile interrogation room with gray walls.
He listened quietly as I explained the entire timeline of the evening, from the engagement dinner to the phone call with my mother.
When Grant showed him the security footage from the restaurant, the detective's expression darkened significantly.
"This is crystal clear evidence of tampering and planting narcotics," Detective Harris confirmed, taking the phone to upload the file.
"The fact that the suspect is your cousin, and she conspired with your own mother, makes this a very serious domestic case."
He carefully took the bagged pills and labeled them as official police evidence.
"Mr. Grant, can you confirm that these were stolen from your private residence?" the detective asked.
"Yes, sir, I noticed they were missing a few weeks ago but assumed I had misplaced them," Grant answered confidently.
Detective Harris leaned back in his chair and folded his hands on the metal table.
"I am going to send two officers to bring Melissa in for questioning right now."
"Since these are prescription narcotics, the charges will include felony possession and intent to distribute."
"Not to mention filing a false police report if she had gone through with her plan to call Child Protective Services."
I felt a massive wave of relief wash over me, knowing that someone was finally taking my family's abuse seriously.
For years, they had gaslighted me, telling me I was too sensitive when they excluded Evan.
Now, their cruel actions were documented in a police file with potential prison time attached.
Two hours later, we were sitting in the waiting area when the front doors of the precinct burst open.
Melissa was escorted inside by two uniformed officers, looking completely disheveled and panicked.
She was still wearing her expensive engagement party dress, though it was now wrinkled and stained with tears.
When she saw Grant sitting next to me in the lobby, she immediately tried to run toward him.
"Grant! Baby, please, you have to tell them this is a huge misunderstanding!" she screamed hysterically.
Grant stood up, blocking her path to me and Evan, looking at her with absolute disgust.
"Do not ever speak to me again, Melissa," he said, his voice cold and devoid of any emotion.
"You are a toxic, evil person, and the wedding is permanently canceled."
Melissa let out a loud, theatrical wail and collapsed onto the floor, hoping to gain sympathy from the officers.
The officers simply pulled her back to her feet and practically dragged her down the hallway to an interrogation room.
Detective Harris walked out a few minutes later, offering us a reassuring nod.
"She is already changing her story, claiming you planted the drugs to ruin her wedding," he told us.
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"But once I show her the video footage, she will undoubtedly crack."
"You three can go home now, you are perfectly safe."
