Assistant District Attorney Sarah Chen looked around the room like someone who had seen many crime scenes before. Her eyes went from Richard, still held down by Lorenzo to Jessica crying on the floor, to Dr. Cross pressed against the wall, and finally to Sophia, who was gripping a knife so tightly her knuckles were white.
“Mrs. Blackwood,” ADA Chen said gently, “you can drop the knife now. You’re safe.”
Sophia looked down at the knife like she didn’t even remember holding it. Her fingers were stiff, and it took effort to loosen her grip. When the knife finally fell and hit the marble floor, the sound echoed loudly through the penthouse.
“Detective Max,” ADA Chen called to an officer, “please collect the weapon as evidence.”
The detective, a woman with a kind face carefully placed the k
