The. arrest
313 Words
The vault fell silent.
Tracy stared at the bank manager.
"There has to be some mistake."
"I'm afraid not," the manager replied nervously. "The detectives have an arrest warrant."
Marcus immediately stepped in front of Tracy.
"We're not handing her over until we know what evidence they have."
Oliver looked at the manager.
"Take us to them."
---
In the bank lobby, two detectives waited with several uniformed officers.
The lead detective, Inspector Naomi Reed, held up the warrant.
"Specioza Tracy, you're under arrest on suspicion of the murder of Ethan Brooks."
Oliver's voice was calm but firm.
"My lawyer will be contacting you immediately."
Inspector Reed nodded.
"That's your right. But we have evidence."
She placed a transparent evidence bag on the counter.
Inside was a silver bracelet.
Tracy's eyes widened.
"That's mine..."
"It was recovered from Ethan Brooks's apartment," the inspector said.
Tracy shook her head.
"I lost that bracelet weeks ago."
Inspector Reed met her gaze.
"Then someone wanted us to find it."
Oliver stepped closer.
"You believe she's being framed."
"I didn't say that," the inspector replied. "I said the evidence raises questions. My job is to follow those questions."
Marcus leaned toward Oliver and whispered, "She's different. She's not rushing to judgment."
Oliver nodded almost imperceptibly.
"Inspector," he said, "give us forty-eight hours. We can prove Tracy's innocence."
Reed considered the request.
Before she could answer, her phone buzzed.
She listened in silence.
When the call ended, the color drained from her face.
"What happened?" Oliver asked.
She looked at him.
"The forensic lab just confirmed something."
"What?"
"The bracelet contains Tracy's fingerprints..."
She paused.
"...and someone else's."
"Whose?" Marcus asked.
Inspector Reed took a slow breath.
"The second set belongs to..."
She looked directly at Oliver.
"...your grandfather, Edward Lancaster."
The room fell into stunned silence.
For the first time, even Oliver didn't know what to believe.
- Writer
