Michael drove through the streets of Northern Virginia like a man possessed. His heart was pounding so hard he could hear it over the engine.
He had exactly 57 minutes to save Ellie, Hope, and Mary. And to expose Victoria before it was too late. His first stop was the local police precinct. He burst into the building, demanding to speak to the lead detective.
— Please, it’s an emergency. Three lives are at stake.
Detective Peterson, a middle-aged man with the weary eyes of a veteran cop, took him into an office filled with files and the smell of stale coffee.
— Mr. Sterling, calm down and tell me what’s going on.
With shaking hands, Michael handed him the bottle of pills and the lab results from Dr. Miller.
— My wife has been drugging my daughter for years to keep her silent. And three years ago, she murdered Ellie’s biological mother.
Detective Peterson studied the documents with narrowed eyes.
— This is very serious, Mr. Sterling. Do you have any other proof?
— Victoria confessed to everything an hour ago in my home. She admitted to killing Catherine Smith and said she plans to kill an innocent family tonight to silence witnesses.
— Where is your daughter now?
Michael gave him Mary’s address.
— You have to protect them. Victoria said she’s going to stage a fire to make it look like an accident.
Detective Peterson stood up immediately.
— I’m sending units to secure them right now. But I need you to go back home and keep your wife occupied while we set up the operation.
— You want me to go back to that woman? She’s insane. She’s capable of killing me too.
— Michael, if Victoria suspects we’re onto her, she might flee the country. We need stronger evidence for an arrest. A recorded confession would be ideal.
Michael felt his stomach knot.
— You want me to record her?
— Your phone can record. If you can get her to repeat what she said about Catherine Smith’s murder, we’ll have enough to put her away for life.
With trembling legs, Michael got back in his car. He had 38 minutes to get home, convince Victoria to confess again, and record the evidence that would put her behind bars.
On the way, his phone rang. It was Mary.
— Mr. Sterling, the police are at my door. They say we’re in danger. What’s happening?
— Mary, keep the girls inside. Don’t open the door for anyone but the police. I’ll be there as soon as I can.
— The girls are scared. Ellie is asking for you.
— Tell her I love her and everything will be okay. Just keep them safe.
Arriving at the estate, Michael turned on the voice recorder on his phone and tucked it into his shirt pocket. Victoria was waiting in the living room, now dressed entirely in black, as if she were going to a funeral.
— You’re late, — she said coldly. — Where’s Ellie?
— There was a complication. The family didn’t want to let her go. I had to fake a medical emergency.
Victoria studied him suspiciously.
— What complication, Victoria? Before we go any further, I need to understand. Did you really kill Catherine Smith?
— Why are you asking this again? I already told you.
— I just can’t believe my wife is capable of murder. How exactly did you do it?
Victoria poured herself another glass of wine, seemingly relaxing into the conversation.
— It was easier than I thought. I hired a mechanic to sabotage the brakes on her car. She was driving on the highway to Richmond when she lost control.
Michael felt nauseous, but he pushed on.
— And no one suspected?
— Who would suspect? Catherine was a single assistant with a daughter. Accidents happen every day. Besides, I made sure the investigation was brief.
— How did you make sure of that?
