Chapter 2 - The Interrogation Room and the Missing HoursThe interrogation room at the precinct smelled of stale coffee, old paper, and lingering fear. The metal table between Daniel and Detective Miller felt like a chasm dividing two entirely different realities.
"Let's go over this one more time, Dr. Sterling," Detective Miller said, leaning forward, his gravelly voice grating on Daniel's frayed nerves. "You are a licensed physician. You pronounced Claire Miller dead at 11:45 PM on Tuesday. Cause of death: acute cardiac arrest secondary to severe pharmaceutical toxicity. Yet, forty-eight hours later, she's breathing fresh air because a grieving brother smashed her coffin with a mallet."
"I followed protocol," Daniel said defensively, his voice cracking. He rubbed his temples, trying to massage away a splitting migraine. "The toxicology report was positive. Her vitals flatlined. The ECG machine registered zero activity for over three minutes. I didn't just guess, Detective. I verified it."
"And the mortician?" Miller arched an eyebrow, sliding a glossy photograph across the table. It showed the interior of the ivory casket, revealing deep, frantic scratch marks carved into the satin lining from the inside out. "Mr. Vance claims the body was locked, sealed, and prepped for cremation. He swears nobody touched the casket after it left your hospital wing."
Daniel stared at the scratch marks. A cold sweat broke out across his neck. Those marks meant Claire hadn't just woken up inside the box; she had woke up while it was moving, trapped in pitch-black darkness, clawing at the fabric until her fingers bled.
"Where is Claire now?" Daniel asked, ignoring the question.
"Hospital wing, under heavy psychiatric observation and police guard," Miller replied, narrowing his eyes. "And Noah? He's downstairs. Refusing to speak to anyone until he sees you."
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Daniel’s heart pounded against his ribs. Noah hadn't been acting like a random vandal; he had moved with terrifying, absolute certainty. It was as if he knew his sister was alive before anyone else even suspected a miracle.
"Bring him in," Daniel muttered, staring at the scratches on the photograph. "Let's see what the savior has to say."
