Chapter 4 - The Alibi in Ashes
"I... I don't know what you're talking about," Elise stammered, her hands trembling so violently she dropped the glass of brandy. It shattered on the Persian rug, the amber liquid seeping into the heavy wool.
"Don't lie to me!" Damien roared, lunging forward. Arthur caught him by the shoulders, shoving him back.
"Damien, enough!" Arthur shouted, his authoritative voice echoing off the mahogany walls. "Explain yourself, right now."
Martha stepped forward, tears streaming down her face, and handed her husband the traffic camera photograph. Arthur squinted at the grainy image. His breath hitched. He looked at the photo, then at Elise, then back at the photo.
"Elise," Arthur said, his voice dropping to a heavy, disappointed whisper. "Is this you?"
Elise stared at the photograph. Her lips parted, but no sound came out. "That... that's my old car," she finally whispered. "But I wasn't driving it that night. I swear to you! I lent it to someone!"
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"Who?!" Damien screamed, straining against his father's grip. "Who did you lend it to, Elise? Because whoever was behind that wheel killed Maya!"
"My sister," Elise choked out, bursting into a fresh wave of hysterical tears. "I lent it to my twin sister, Chloe. But she's dead, Damien. She died of an overdose three years ago. You’re punishing the wrong person!"
