The fluorescent light buzzed like an angry wasp above my head.

I refused to believe I was hallucinating.

Marcus was real.

The way his arms had bruised my ribs when he caught me was real.

“He’s alive,” I said firmly, pushing the photograph back toward Vance.

“My mother is manipulating the footage.”

“She owns half the technology firms in the city, Detective.”

“Faking a lobby camera feed is child’s play for her.”

Vance looked skeptical, but he didn't dismiss the claim entirely.

“Assuming you’re right,” Vance said slowly, “why go through all this trouble?”

“Why stage a public execution in her own home, kidnap her granddaughter, and isolate you?”

I closed my eyes, trying to piece together the fragmented puzzle of my mother's mind.

Eleanor never did anything without a financial or strategic motive.

Lily wasn't just a grandchild to her.

Lily was the sole inheritor of the Vanguard Trust.

“The trust fund,” I breathed, opening my eyes as realization dawned on me.

“Lily turns five tomorrow.”

Vance leaned in, his interest suddenly piqued.

“What happens when she turns five?”

“The Vanguard Trust unlocks,” I explained, the words tumbling out of my mouth in a rush.

“It’s a massive offshore account established by my late father.”

“If something were to happen to me before Lily comes of age, guardianship—and control of the trust—defaults to my mother.”

Vance whistled low.

“So you’re the obstacle.”

“She tried to remove the obstacle permanently by pushing you off that balcony.”

“But she failed,” I said, my voice trembling with newfound fury.

“Because Marcus caught me.”

“And now she’s taken Lily to force my hand.”

Suddenly, the heavy metal door to the interrogation room burst open.

A uniformed officer stood in the doorway, breathless.

“Detective Vance, you need to see this,” the officer said, holding up a radio.

“We just got a hit on Eleanor’s private helicopter.”

Vance stood up instantly.

“Where is it headed?”

“It’s not headed anywhere, sir,” the officer replied, his face pale.

“It just went down over the bay.”