The police arrived in a blur of flashing lights and screaming sirens. They filled the small apartment, uniformed officers and detectives trampling over the crime scene. Elena sat in the corner, wrapped in a shock blanket, answering questions in a daze.
"He didn't do it," she said, over and over again. "She did it to herself."
But the detectives didn't look convinced. They kept glancing at Julian, who was sitting on the couch, his hands cuffed behind his back, his white shirt stained with Vivian’s blood. He hadn't spoken a word since they took him away from her body. He just stared at the floor, a broken man.
"Mr. Sterling, you’re under arrest for the suspected murder of Vivian Sterling," the lead detective said, reading him his rights.
Julian didn't react. He didn't fight. He stood up
