Julian: Clara, I want you to come with me to my attorney's office downtown right after we finish at the police precinct.
Clara: To your attorney's office? Why?
Julian: Because Vanessa wasn't acting alone. A plan this complex requires an insider at my financial firm.
Clara: You think someone at your company helped her get that poison?
Julian: Pharmaceutical-grade cyanide isn't something you buy on a street corner. Someone with executive access had to sign for that clearance.
An hour later, Julian and Clara walked into the top-floor corner office of Hayes Financial Group.
A distinguished older man in a navy blue suit stood up from his mahogany desk, looking deeply concerned.
Arthur: Julian! I saw the news alerts on my computer screen! Are you alright?
Julian: I'm alive, Arthur. Thanks to Clara here.
Arthur: My goodness, young lady, that bandage on your face looks severe. Who did that to you?
Clara: Vanessa's diamond ring, sir. But it looks worse than it is.
Arthur: Julian, the press is going wild outside the corporate plaza. They're saying Vanessa was arrested for attempted murder!
Julian: She was. She tried to poison my wine with cyanide during lunch.
Arthur: Cyanide?! In broad daylight?! Is she insane?!
Julian: She was greedy, Arthur. She wanted the twenty-million-dollar insurance policy before the clause expired tonight.
Arthur pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped a bead of sweat off his forehead.
Arthur: That's... that's horrible. I can't believe a woman could be so ruthless.
Julian: What surprises me even more, Arthur, is how she got access to my private life insurance policy documents.
Arthur: Well, as the senior chief operating officer, I keep those files locked in the corporate vault, as per company policy.
Clara: Excuse me, Mr. Arthur. What is that black velvet pouch sitting on your desk shelf behind those books?
Arthur froze, his hand stopping mid-air as he looked back at the bookshelf behind his head.
Arthur: That? That's just a cleaning kit for my antique pocket watches, young lady.
Clara: That's strange, because it has the exact same golden drawstring and velvet texture as the pouch Officer Vance pulled from Mrs. Hayes' purse.
Julian: Arthur... step away from the desk.
Arthur: Julian, don't listen to this waitress! She doesn't know anything about corporate operations!
Julian: Clara has better eyes than anyone I've ever met. Move away from that shelf right now!
Julian stepped forward, reaching behind the leather-bound books on the third shelf.
He pulled out the black velvet pouch and opened the drawstring, revealing two more foil packets with red biohazard symbols.
Julian: You... you provided the poison, Arthur?
Arthur: Julian, listen to me! She threatened to expose my offshore trading accounts if I didn't help her!
Julian: My father hired you thirty years ago! You were supposed to be my mentor!
Arthur: I was drowning in debt, Julian! She promised me three million dollars from the insurance payout!
Clara: I already pressed the emergency record button on my phone, Mr. Arthur. Everything you just admitted is being recorded.
Arthur sank down into his leather desk chair, burying his head in his hands as he realized his career and freedom were over.