Detective Vance: Turn around and place your hands behind your back, Mrs. Sterling.
Victoria: Get your hands off me! Do you know who my lawyers are?
Detective Vance: Your lawyers aren't going to save you from a first-degree murder charge, ma'am.
The cold steel handcuffs clicked firmly around Victoria's wrists behind her back. She thrashed against the officer's grip, her long emerald green dress trailing across the wet marble floor where Clara's cut hair lay scattered.
Victoria: Julian! Tell them to stop! We can make a deal! I'll surrender all claims to the trust fund!
Julian: You have no claims left to surrender, Victoria. Everything you touched is being seized by the state prosecutor.
Victoria: You ungrateful brat! I should have gotten rid of you first!
Julian: Thank you for confirming your intent on federal record, Victoria.
The officers dragged Victoria toward the heavy double doors at the front of the hall. The crowd of high-society guests stepped back, taking photos and video recordings on their phones as the former estate mistress was led out into the flashing red and blue lights.
Guest C: Unbelievable... She killed Arthur and tried to poison the house staff!
Guest D: She'll spend the rest of her life in a maximum-security prison cell.
Up on the balcony, the paramedics carefully placed Clara onto the soft stretcher, securing her with safety straps as they prepared to wheel her down the grand staircase.
Julian: How is she doing, paramedic?
Paramedic One: We caught it early enough, Mr. Sterling. The tea dose was small, and we're administering an antitoxin right now. She's going to make a full recovery.
Julian: Thank God...
Julian walked alongside the stretcher as they brought Clara down to the main hall floor. Clara looked up at him through tired, watery eyes, her short, uneven dark hair framing her pale face.
Clara: Mr. Sterling... I'm sorry about the dinner party...
Julian: Don't you ever apologize for anything, Clara. You saved my father's memory tonight. You saved this entire family.
Clara: The note... did you find the second half?
Julian: The detective has all the evidence he needs. Victoria is going away forever.
Clara: What about my hair?
Julian smiled softly, reaching down to gently pat her shoulder, keeping his gray suit jacket wrapped warm around her chest.
Julian: Hair grows back, Clara. But courage like yours is something money can never buy. You have a permanent place in this house for as long as you live.
Clara: Thank you, Mr. Sterling...
The paramedics wheeled Clara out through the front entrance toward the waiting ambulance. Julian turned to face the remaining guests standing in the grand hall, his voice strong and clear.
Julian: The gala is officially over, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for your presence tonight. My family's estate is restored to the truth.
The guests applauded softly, offering quiet nods of respect as they filed out through the front doors into the cool evening air.