Deputy Miller unclipped a pair of heavy steel handcuffs from his belt, stepping directly over the spilled contents of the purse.
Deputy Miller: Roll onto your stomach, ma'am. Put your hands behind your back.
Evelyn: Do not put those dirty cuffs on me! Do you know what kind of lawsuit my family will file against the county?
Deputy Miller: You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
Deputy Miller grabbed Evelyn's thin wrists and clicked the ratchets tight, pinning her down against the polished stone.
A sharp wail of humiliation tore from Evelyn's throat as the cold steel locked into place.
Carter: Never step foot in Texas again!
Two paramedics rushed through the open doorway carrying a collapsible stretcher, medical bags bouncing at their hips.
Paramedic: Where is the patient?
Carter: Over here on the sofa. She has been deprived of water and food for over seventy hours.
The paramedics moved swiftly around Clara, wrapping an insulated silver blanket over Carter's coat and checking her vitals.
Paramedic: Severe dehydration and signs of mild hypothermia, but her pulse is stabilizing. We need to get an IV line in right now.
Clara: Carter... don't let go of my hand...
Carter knelt beside the stretcher, locking his fingers tightly around hers while Lily kissed her mother's pale forehead.
Carter: I'm not leaving your side ever again. Neither of us is.
Deputy Ross picked up the forged passport and the single platinum ring from the floor, sealing them inside a clear plastic evidence bag.
Deputy Ross: We found three international wire receipts dated yesterday inside the bag, Mr. Vance. She was scheduled to fly to Zurich tomorrow morning.
Carter: With the entirety of our family trust fund.
Deputy Ross: Not anymore. Attempted murder, kidnapping, grand larceny, and corporate fraud. She isn't seeing the outside of a cell for twenty-five years.
The officers hauled Evelyn to her feet, dragging her toward the heavy front doors as her bare feet scraped the tiles.
Evelyn: Carter! Tell them to drop the charges! We can split the money! Carter, look at me!
Carter did not even turn around to watch her leave.
The heavy mahogany doors clicked shut behind the officers, cutting off Evelyn's desperate screams for good.
Outside, the bright Texas sun warmed the sweeping green lawn, washing away the cold shadow that had hung over the estate.
Clara squeezed Carter's fingers with newfound strength, a faint, tearful smile touching her lips.
Clara: Take us home, Carter.
Carter: We are already home, sweetheart. And nobody is ever going to hurt us again.
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