Chapter 13
Within minutes, flashing red and blue lights illuminated the grand estate lawns as state troopers and forensic teams swarmed the property.
A state investigator stepped into the nursery, taking notes while examining the shattered window frame and the silver dagger left behind on the floor.
"This wasn't a random break-in, Mr. Sterling," the lead investigator stated gravely, handing Julian an evidence bag.
"This dagger bears the crest of the Abernathy family trust... someone wanted that child eliminated tonight."
Julian stared at the crest in stunned silence, realizing that his wife's psychotic break was only the opening salvo of a much darker conspiracy.
Down in the asylum two counties away, Rose sat calmly on her white cot, staring blankly at the bare concrete wall.
A corrupt orderly unlocked her cell door, sliding a secure burner phone across the concrete floor toward her shoes.
May you like
Rose picked up the phone slowly, pressing it to her ear as a cold, calculating smile crept across her pale face.
"The initial phase failed, madam; the nanny protected the child," a distorted voice reported from the speaker.
