Ten minutes passed in tense silence before Officer Davis walked back down the grand staircase, holding a clear plastic evidence bag containing a small glass vial, along with a thick leather folder sealed with a red wax stamp.
Officer Davis: Judge Harrison, we found the empty glass vial inside the small paper shredder bin in Mrs. Sterling's office. The residue matches the potassium chloride found in the syringe.
Judge Harrison: Excellent work, Officer. And what is inside that leather folder?
Officer Davis: We found this hidden behind a false panel in her wall safe. It appears to be the original, unedited last will and testament of Arthur Sterling, dated six months before his death.
Evelyn let out a sharp cry, lunging forward to grab the folder, but Officer Davis easily held her back by her arm.
Evelyn: Give that back! That is private family property!
Judge Harrison: Open the folder, Officer Davis. Read the primary beneficiary clause aloud for everyone in this room to hear.
Officer Davis unsealed the red wax and opened the thick cream paper inside, scanning down to the final page.
Officer Davis: Section Four: I, Arthur Sterling, leave ninety percent of my estate, including Sterling Enterprises, the Hamptons estate, and all liquid trust funds, to my biological daughter, Maya Sterling.
The entire dining hall erupted into loud gasps. Guests turned their heads in complete shock, staring at the young waitress standing near the inverted mahogany chair.
Guest A: Maya? The maid is Arthur Sterling's biological daughter?
Guest B: That's why Evelyn kept her in servant clothes! She wanted to hide her identity from the board of directors!
Judge Harrison: Is this true, Maya? Are you Arthur's lost daughter?
Maya: Yes, Judge Harrison. My mother was Arthur's first wife. After she passed away, Evelyn married my father and slowly isolated him from me. When my father got sick, Evelyn hid his real will, hired me as a maid, and forced me to work here under threat of framing my brother for theft.
Evelyn: She's an illegitimate bastard! She has no right to the Sterling name or the money!
Judge Harrison: The original signed will says otherwise, Evelyn. And unlike your forged document, this one bears the notary stamp of the state supreme court.
Maya: I never wanted the money, Evelyn. I only wanted my father's memory to be respected.
Evelyn: You stole my life! You stole everything I worked twenty years to build!
Maya: You didn't build anything, Evelyn. You stole, lied, and tried to murder your way to the top. And now it is all over.
Officer Davis: Evelyn Sterling, you are under arrest for attempted murder on a federal judge, forgery of a legal document, grand theft, and extortion.
Officer Davis pulled Evelyn's hands behind her back and clicked the heavy steel handcuffs firmly around her wrists.
Evelyn: Get your hands off me! I am the mistress of this estate!
Officer Davis: Not anymore, ma'am. Watch your head as you get into the cruiser.