Marcus lunged forward, catching Evelyn by the strap of her leather handbag before she could reach the foyer.
Marcus: You aren't taking another step until the police walk through those doors.
Evelyn: Unhand me! That is assault! I will sue you for every penny of your business!
Marcus: Sue me then. I'd love to see you explain this casket to a grand jury.
Toby wrapped his denim jacket around Clara's shivering shoulders as she stepped awkwardly onto the chapel carpet.
Toby: Clara, your hands are like ice. Sit down here.
Clara: How did you find out, Toby? How did you know I was in there?
Toby: I was hiding under the basement stairs yesterday afternoon looking for my baseball glove.
Clara: Did you see him?
Toby: I saw Mr. Vance, the assistant from the funeral home. She handed him an envelope thick with hundred-dollar bills.
The congregation gasped as heads turned toward the back corner where the funeral assistant stood.
Assistant Vance: That was for standard burial expedited fees! I had nothing to do with this!
Toby: You told her the sedative would last twelve hours! I heard you say it through the floorboards!
Assistant Vance: That's a lie! A kid's wild imagination!
Two uniformed police officers burst through the main double doors with hands resting on their holstered sidearms.
Officer Davis: Nobody move! Everyone stay exactly where you are! Who called dispatch?
Marcus: Officer, over here. We have an attempted homicide and an illegal burial in progress.
Officer Davis: What is going on? Why is that casket destroyed?
Evelyn: Officer, thank goodness you arrived! My stepdaughter faked her death to extort money from our family estate!
Clara: Look at my neck, Officer. She used chemical restraints.
The officer leaned in, his eyes widening as he examined the dark purple bruising along Clara's collarbone and throat.
Officer Davis: Dispatch, this is Unit 4. Send two ambulances and forensic backup immediately.
Evelyn: She did that to herself! She has always been unstable!
Toby: She tried to steal the trust fund, Officer! My dad's will gives everything to Clara!
Officer Davis: Ma'am, place your hands behind your back. Right now.
Evelyn: Do you know who I am? My late husband built half the commercial properties in this county!
Officer Davis: I don't care if he built the moon. Turn around and give me your hands.
The metallic click of handcuffs echoed off the cathedral ceiling, drowning out Evelyn's frantic curses.
Clara: Check her coat pocket, Officer. The bottle of paralytic is still in her purse.
Evelyn thrashed against the officer's grip, her polished persona crumbling into wild, frantic panic.
Evelyn: You won't get a dime, Clara! The prenuptial agreement covers me!
Clara: The prenup dad made you sign had a felony forfeiture clause. You leave with nothing.
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