Detective Daniel Pierce strode into the foyer, his heavy black trench coat dusted with snow.

Two uniformed officers followed him, their boots leaving wet tracks on the polished floor.

Behind them was Dr. Amelia Hart, carrying a large black medical bag.

“Dr. Hart, they are upstairs in the east wing,” I said, stepping forward to meet her.

Amelia nodded quickly and hurried up the stairs, her face grim.

Detective Pierce walked straight toward Vanessa.

“Vanessa Caldwell,” he said, pulling a pair of handcuffs from his belt.

“You are under arrest for child endangerment and felony neglect.”

Vanessa stepped back, her eyes darting toward the locked exit.

“Get your hands off me,” she screamed as the officer grabbed her wrists.

“Benjamin, tell them to stop this madness!”

Benjamin did not look at her as the metal cuffs clicked into place.

He looked at me, his eyes hollow and exhausted.

“Is it over?” he whispered.

I looked down at my leather briefcase sitting on the side table near the door.

Inside were the encrypted financial audits I had run earlier that afternoon.

“Not yet,” I whispered back.