Chapter 2 - The Interrogation Room
The harsh fluorescent lights of the precinct felt a million miles away from the gala.
I sat in a hard plastic chair with a cup of stale coffee in my hands.
The museum medic had assured me Sophie was safe at the private hospital wing.
She only had a mild concussion and a few cuts.
But the emotional scars would take years to heal.
A detective with tired eyes walked into the small waiting area.
"Mrs. Bennett, your husband is telling quite a story in there," Detective Miller said.
He leaned against the pale yellow wall.
"He claims the child tripped on her own dress."
I let out a harsh, bitter laugh.
"Of course he did."
"He also says you are having a mental breakdown."
The detective watched my reaction closely.
"He claims you ordered the lockdown to hold him hostage."
I set my coffee cup down on the wobbly table.
I reached into my designer clutch.
I pulled out a silver USB drive.
"Detective, this contains the unedited 4K security footage from four different angles."
I handed the drive to him.
"You will see exactly who had a breakdown."
Miller took the drive with a raised eyebrow.
"Your mother-in-law is also in the lobby."
He sighed heavily.
"She is threatening to sue the entire police department."
"Let her try," I said coldly.
I stood up and smoothed out my ruined dress.
"Can I see him?"
The detective nodded and led me down a narrow hallway.
Grant was sitting in an interrogation room.
He looked ridiculous in his tailored tuxedo while chained to a metal desk.
He looked up when I walked in.
"Clara, thank God," he breathed out.
"Tell them to let me out of here."
"I gave them the tapes, Grant."
His hopeful expression shattered into a million jagged pieces.
"You did what?" he whispered.
"I gave them the tapes."
"Are you insane?" he yelled.
He slammed his fists on the metal table.
"You are going to ruin me!"
"You ruined yourself," I replied calmly.
"I am the CEO of a Fortune 500 company!"
He pulled at his handcuffs.
"My board of directors will drop me by morning if this leaks!"
"It already leaked."
I held up my phone screen.
The video of him shoving Sophie was trending at number one on every platform.
The investors at the gala had live-streamed the entire aftermath.
"You are viral, Grant."
He stared at the screen in pure horror.
"The world knows exactly what kind of man you are."
"Clara, please," he begged.
Tears actually formed in his pathetic eyes.
"Think about our family."
"I am thinking about my daughter."
May you like
I turned around and walked toward the heavy door.
"Have a good night in a cell, Grant."
