Chapter 4 - The Unraveling Web
Derek drove back to his estate like a man possessed, two police cruisers following closely behind with their lights turned off. Rain slammed against his windshield in heavy, relentless sheets. Beside him in the passenger seat was Detective Robert Miller of the local precinct, whom Dr. Vance had summoned to the PICU.
“Stay in the vehicle until my officers secure the perimeter, Mr. Grayson,” Detective Miller commanded, adjusting his service weapon. “If Sterling is in that house, he’s desperate.”
“He tried to murder my daughter,” Derek said, his voice terrifyingly calm. “He’s been poisoning her inches at a time for three weeks.”
When they pulled up the long, winding driveway, the grand Victorian home sat dark against the stormy night sky. A lone black SUV was parked near the rear service entrance, its engine idling quietly.
The moment the police cruisers turned on their spotlights, illuminating the estate in brilliant white light, the rear door of the mansion burst open. Julian Sterling dashed out, clutching a dark canvas duffel bag.
“Police! Hold it right there!” Detective Miller barked through his megaphone.
Julian froze in the glare of the lights, his face pale and eyes wide with panic. Officers swarmed the driveway, guns drawn, cutting off his escape to the SUV. Seeing no way out, Julian dropped the bag and raised his hands, his body shaking uncontrollably.
Derek stepped out of his car, stepping into the downpour. He walked directly toward his brother-in-law, his fists clenched so tightly his nails bit into his palms.
“Derek! Wait!” Julian yelled, his voice cracking over the sound of the rain. “It’s not what you think! I didn't want to hurt her!”
“You put parasites in her crib!” Derek roared, coming within inches of Julian before two officers stepped between them. “You watched her stop breathing day after day! You sat at my dinner table, held her hand, and pretended to comfort me!”
“I didn't have a choice!” Julian sobbed, collapsing to his knees on the wet gravel. “I owed people money—dangerous people! Millions! The trust... if Rose died of a natural illness, the money was released to me as the secondary beneficiary! I found a guy on the dark web who imported exotic venomous vectors. He told me it wouldn't leave a trace! He said it would just look like she went to sleep!”
“Where did you get the blanket, Julian?” Detective Miller demanded sternly, pulling Julian’s arms behind his back to snap on the handcuffs.
Julian looked up at Derek, rain dripping off his nose. “I didn't buy the blanket. Maria... Maria bought the blanket at a fleece fair last month. I just... I used a dropper to seed the hem with the nymphs before she brought it into the house. I knew Maria washed it every Tuesday and put it in the crib. I knew you’d never suspect me.”
Derek felt a sudden, crushing wave of guilt. He had doubted Maria—the woman who had stayed awake with him for nights on end, the woman whose sharp eye had ultimately saved Rose’s life.
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As the officers dragged Julian toward the police car, Detective Miller picked up the canvas bag Julian had dropped. He unzipped it carefully. Inside were several small plastic vials filled with rubbing alcohol, an empty syringe, and a small, insulated cooler used for transport.
“We have enough physical evidence here to put him away for attempted capital murder,” Miller said, looking at Derek with deep sympathy. “Get back to the hospital, Derek. Your baby needs you.”
