Chapter 2 - Whispers in the ICUThe steady beep... beep... beep... of the heart monitor was the only sound inside Intensive Care Unit 4. Outside the glass doors, Ethan paced back and forth like a caged predator. His shirt was still stained with Claireās blood, but he refused the hospital staff's offers of fresh clothes.
Detective Vance leaned against the wall, flipping through his notebook.
"Mr. Blackwood," Vance started, clicking his pen. "Your wifeās medical report just came in. Fractured ribs, severe concussion, internal hemorrhaging... but the doctor noted something else."
Ethan stopped pacing. "What else?"
"Bruising around her wrists and upper arms that predates tonight's fall by at least forty-eight hours," Vance said, eyeing Ethan carefully. "Defensive marks. Care to explain why your wife had restraint marks before she fell off your estateās balcony?"
Ethanās jaw clenched. "Claire has been struggling with severe paranoia and depression since her mother passed away six months ago. She self-harms. She wanders off. I had to physically restrain her last night to keep her from running into the storm."
"Is that why Eleanor claims you wanted her dead?" Vance asked sharply.
"Eleanor is a manipulator!" Ethan spat, stepping closer to the officer. "She has been trying to steal Claireās inheritance since the day our father-in-law's will was read! Eleanor pushed her tonight because if Claire dies before her 30th birthday next week, the entire $50 million Blackwood Trust defaults entirely to Eleanor!"
Inside the room, a nurse suddenly called out. "Doctor! Her heart rate is spiking!"
Ethan and Vance rushed into the room. Claireās eyes were wide open, staring at the ceiling as she gasped for oxygen. The oxygen mask fogged up rapidly with her distressed breaths.
"Claire!" Ethan reached out to grasp her hand, but the moment his fingers touched her skin, Claire recoiled violently, her monitor chiming erratic alarm tones.
"Don't... don't touch me..." Claire sobbed behind the mask, tears streaming down her pale cheeks.
"Claire, baby, it's me. You're safe. The police are here," Ethan said, his voice dripping with soft affection. "Tell the detective what Eleanor did to you. Tell him she pushed you."
Claire turned her head slowly, looking past Ethan toward Detective Vance. Her voice was raspy, broken, and terrified.
"It wasn't... Eleanor..." Claire whimpered.
Ethan froze mid-step. Detective Vance stepped forward, pulling out an audio recorder. "Mrs. Blackwood, who pushed you?"
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Claireās eyes locked onto Ethan with pure horror.
CHAPTER 2 HOOK: "Eleanor didn't push me..." Claire choked out. "She was trying to grab my hand... before Ethan let me fall!"
