Tyler dropped the heavy orange mallet onto the hardwood floor with a loud thump. He leaned over the broken wooden top, his hands bleeding slightly from sharp splinters as he ripped away the jagged pieces of white painted pine. Looking down into the dark inside of the box, his vision blurred with fresh tears. Bound tightly with thick nylon ropes around her wrists and ankles was his sister, Chloe. Her hair was matted with sweat, her face pale, and a thick black cloth gag was tied firmly over her mouth, choking back her terrified screams.
Tyler: Chloe! Oh god, Chloe!
Chloe: Mmmph! Mmmph!
Tyler reached down through the jagged opening, carefully pulling the black gag off his sister's face first. Chloe gasped wildly for air, her throat rough as she began to sob uncontrollably. Tyler worked fast, untying the tight nylon knots around her wrists while Arthur stood frozen near the flag painting, muttering to himself in disbelief.
Chloe: He did it, Tyler! He killed Mom! He poisoned her!
Arthur: Shut your mouth, Chloe! You do not know what you are talking about!
Chloe: I found the hidden trust fund papers in his desk yesterday! He forged Mom's signature on a two million dollar life insurance policy!
The entire horrifying truth hit the room like a cold winter storm. Eleanor had not died of a sudden illness while traveling. Arthur had planned everything out down to the smallest detail to collect a massive payout and clear his heavy real estate debts. When Chloe had discovered the fake insurance documents and the altered last will, Arthur had trapped her in the house, tied her up, and locked her in the air-tight transport casket. He was planning to swap the empty casket at the funeral home with this sealed box later that night, burying Chloe alive alongside the secrets of his horrific crime.
Tyler: You were going to bury my sister alive for money?
Arthur: You do not understand the financial situation we were in! We were going to lose everything! The mortgage, the house, my business!
Tyler: You are a monster!
Arthur suddenly reached into his suit jacket, his hand darting toward his inner pocket. Tyler stood up quickly, shielding Chloe with his own body as Arthur pulled out a heavy metal brass key. But before Arthur could move toward the back patio door to run away, the loud sound of blaring police sirens filled the quiet street outside. Two marked patrol cars pulled up onto the front lawn, their tires screeching against the grass. Tyler had not called the police, but the sharp sounds of the wood smashing had alerted the next-door neighbors, who had reported a violent break-in.