Chapter 1 - The sudden accusation
The officer looked me straight in the eyes. "Ma’am, we need to talk to you about what your daughter did yesterday," he said. My heart pounded so hard I thought it might crack my ribs. "What do you mean?" I asked, my voice trembling in the cold morning air. "Arthur Vance died last night," the second officer stated coldly. "And the hospital toxicology report shows a massive amount of arsenic in his system." I could not breathe. "The last thing he consumed was the apple pie your daughter gave him," the first officer added. I pushed Lila entirely behind my back, shielding her from their aggressive stares. "My daughter is fourteen years old and baked those pies out of the kindness of her heart," I argued. "Then you will not mind if we step inside and take a look around," the officer replied. He held up a piece of paper signed by a local judge. It was a search warrant. They pushed past me, their heavy boots tracking mud across my faded living room rug. I held Lila tightly as they began tearing through our small kitchen. They emptied cabinets, threw baking supplies on the floor, and dismantled the oven. "Mom, I didn't do anything wrong," Lila whispered, tears streaming down her terrified face. "I know, baby, I know," I promised, kissing her forehead. Suddenly, the second officer shouted from beneath the kitchen sink. He stood up, holding a small, clear glass vial using a pair of latex tweezers. The label on the vial clearly read the word arsenic in bold black letters. "You have the right to remain silent," the officer said, pulling out a pair of steel handcuffs.
