Chapter 4 - The Crime Scene Search
Miller's black van pulled into my quiet driveway.
The suburban house sat dark under night sky.
Yellow police tape was stretched across front porch.
I ducked under the tape, unlocking front door.
The house smelled faintly of dried chemical soap.
We walked straight up stairs toward main bathroom.
The bathroom floor was still damp with water.
A spilled bottle of bath oil lay on tiles.
Miller pulled out a ultraviolet forensic light torch.
He shined the purple light across the bathtub.
The UV light illuminated bright glowing chemical streaks.
"This wasn't just hot water, Daniel," Miller.
"She mixed industrial drain cleaner into the tub."
"Chemical accelerants raise water temperature and burn skin."
My stomach churned with pure, unadulterated disgust.
Kate had deliberately poured chemical lye into water.
She wanted to ensure the burns were severe.
She wanted to maximize the shock value court.
Sarah covered her mouth, sobbing softly beside door.
"That monster... she tortured our baby girl..."
"Look at the water heater control, Miller," I.
We ran down the stairs to the basement.
The smart water heater unit sat in corner.
The digital temperature display read one hundred forty.
Normal home water heaters are capped at one.
Someone had bypassed the internal safety fuse manually.
Miller examined the copper wiring behind the panel.
"Fresh tool marks on the safety fuse box."
Miller reported, snapping close-up photos with camera.
"Someone used a screwdriver to override the cap."
"And look at the floor near the boiler."
A small silver dropped screwdriver lay on concrete.
The handle bore tiny, distinct pink nail polish.
The exact shade of nail polish Kate wore.
"Physical evidence connecting her to the override," Miller.
"This proves premeditated mechanical tampering of boiler."
Suddenly, heavy footsteps crunched on driveway pavement outside.
Flashlight beams shone through the basement window glass.
A police cruiser car pulled up outside house.
Officer Davis's voice echoed through the front porch:
"We know you're in there, Daniel Harper!"
"Come out with your hands up right now!"
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Kate had called her police buddy to trap us.
📖 Chapter 5 brings the high-stakes escape from the surrounded house. Keep reading below. 👇
