Twenty minutes later, Detective Marcus stood inside the estate's private study alongside Officer Reynolds. A large monitor rested on the mahogany desk, displaying the recorded security footage from the camera positioned beneath the American flag decor.
Officer Reynolds: I've isolated the timestamp from 2:15 PM, Detective.
Detective Marcus: Play it back at normal speed.
The video played clearly in high definition. Victoria was seen stepping aggressively toward Evelyn at the top of the marble staircase. The audio captured Victoria's voice shouting 'You ruined my life!' followed by the clear visual of Victoria extending both arms and shoving Evelyn forcefully backward down the steps.
Officer Reynolds: Man... that was brutal. She shoved her with full force. It's a miracle the victim survived the fall.
Detective Marcus: Export that file directly to our secure police cloud and lock the original hard drive in an evidence bag.
Officer Reynolds: What charge are we filing, sir?
Detective Marcus: Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon resulting in severe bodily harm, and attempted injury to a child. We're taking her in right now.
They walked back into the grand hall, where Victoria was pacing nervously near the chandelier, sipping a glass of iced water while talking frantically on her cell phone.
Victoria: *Into phone* Arthur, you need to get down here right now! The police are trying to search my house! Call the district attorney!
Detective Marcus: Hang up the phone, Miss Sterling.
Victoria: I'm talking to my defense lawyer! I have a constitutional right to legal counsel!
Detective Marcus: You can talk to him at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center. Put your hands behind your back.
Victoria: What?! You can't arrest me! I am the head of Sterling Enterprises!
Detective Marcus: We just reviewed the security footage from the camera under the flag decor. You intentionally pushed your pregnant sister down twenty marble steps.
Victoria dropped her water glass, the glass shattering across the marble floor as Officer Reynolds pulled her arms behind her back and snapped metal handcuffs around her wrists.
Victoria: AHH! Get your hands off me! The tape is a fake! She altered the digital files!
Officer Reynolds: You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
Victoria: You're making a massive mistake! My father was a major donor to the Dallas Police Department!
Detective Marcus: Your father isn't here to save you from yourself, Victoria. Escort her to the patrol vehicle.
The guests watched in stunned silence as Victoria was marched out of her luxury mansion in handcuffs, her green satin gown dragging across the floor as she screamed hysterically into the afternoon air.