The guards moved quickly across the polished floor, surrounding the trembling maid before she could grab anything from the counter. The air in the grand hall turned icy cold as the situation escalated into complete chaos.
Security Guard: Freeze! Don't move!
Arthur: Restrain her. Don't let her drop anything from her pockets or apron.
Elena: Get your hands off me! I am the head housemaid of this estate! You can't touch me!
Security Guard: Stay still, ma'am!
The guard twisted Elena's arms behind her back firmly, forcing her down onto her knees right next to the spilled tea on the wooden floor. The second officer pulled a clear plastic bag from his tactical belt right away and began collecting the broken porcelain pieces and liquid samples carefully.
Arthur: Test that liquid right now. Use the rapid poison kit from the medical wing.
Security Guard: On it, sir. We'll have a preliminary chemical test in two minutes.
Elena: Mr. Vance, please! I was hired by your stepmother! She vetted me herself! I'm loyal to this family!
Arthur: My stepmother? Evelyn hired you?
Elena: Yes! Mrs. Evelyn Vance gave me the job personally two years ago!
Arthur: Interesting. Evelyn told me you were recommended by a high-end agency in London.
Lily hugged Arthur's neck tighter, her small body shaking as she pointed a finger directly at the kneeling maid.
Lily: The other lady... the one with the big diamond ring on her hand... she came with her to Auntie Clara's house too!
Arthur: My stepmother went to Clara's house?
Lily: Yes! She screamed at Auntie Clara and said if I ever showed up at the mansion, she would lose the entire inheritance!
Arthur: My father's multi-million dollar estate trust... It has a mandatory survival clause. If I die without a direct biological heir, the entire fortune reverts to my stepmother, Evelyn.
Elena: I don't know what she's talking about! I've never met your stepmother outside of this house!
Arthur: Marcus, call my personal attorney, David Miller. Tell him to execute an emergency freeze on all family trust funds immediately.
Security Guard: Sir! The chemical test strip just turned dark purple!
Arthur turned his head slowly to look at the security officer holding the small testing vial. The color change meant only one dangerous thing.
Arthur: Arsenic. She was trying to poison me today.
Security Guard: Yes, sir. High concentration. It would have killed you within an hour.
Elena: No! It wasn't my idea! Mrs. Evelyn made me do it! She promised me two million dollars from the trust settlement!
Arthur: Take her to the holding room downstairs and lock the heavy steel doors. Call the police chief directly.
The guards pulled the crying maid to her feet and dragged her away down the long corridor. Arthur held his daughter close, feeling her warm tears soak into his shirt as he realized how close he had come to losing everything today.