Chapter 2 - The Poisoner’s Alibi
Clara was rushed to Saint Jude’s Trauma Center under heavy police escort. The medical team immediately discovered high concentrations of Tetrodotoxin—a potent neurotoxin capable of inducing a near-fatal state of suspended animation—in her bloodstream. To any ordinary coroner, her heart rate and breathing would have been completely undetectable without advanced toxicology screening.
Detective Marcus Reed sat beside Clara’s hospital bed as fluid drips flushed the remaining toxin from her body. Leo sat beside her, refusing to let go of her hand.
"Julian made me sign a prenuptial agreement three months ago," Clara explained, her voice raw and hoarse. "When I discovered he was using his maritime logistics company to launder money for international human trafficking rings, I told him I was going to the FBI. The next night, he poured me a glass of wine."
"He declared you dead twelve hours later," Detective Reed noted, jotting down notes. "He hired a private doctor to sign the death certificate without an autopsy, claiming religious objections."
"Julian is protected by half the city's judiciary," Leo interjected grimly. "That's why I had to break into the funeral myself. The police wouldn't listen when I reported her missing three days ago!"
"They will listen now," Reed promised, standing up. "The poison in her blood is physical evidence of attempted murder. I'm placing Julian Ashford under formal arrest."
However, before Reed could leave the room, his phone rang. He listened for a moment, his jaw tightening into a hard line.
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"What is it?" Clara asked nervously.
Reed turned back, his expression grim. "Julian’s legal team presented a signed medical waiver and an alibi from the Chief Medical Examiner. They’re claiming Clara suffered a rare neurological catatonic state, and that Julian was an innocent victim of medical malpractice. He just posted five million dollars in bail. He’s free."
