Elena: No! It was right here!
Detective Miller: Someone washed this out completely.
Arthur: Who else had access to this pantry?
Elena: Only the house staff and Victoria!
Arthur: Someone on my staff helped her?
Detective Miller: Or someone tried to cover their own tracks.
Elena: I swear it was full of wine ten minutes ago!
Detective Miller: Calm down, miss. The video is still good evidence.
Detective Miller: But without the fluid sample, charging her with murder attempt gets harder.
Arthur: This is ridiculous. Check the security cameras in the hallway!
Elena: Wait, Mr. Sterling. Look at the sink trap underneath.
Elena pointed to the clear plastic pipe below the metal basin.
Elena: The wine went down the drain, but the trap catches liquid!
Detective Miller: Smart thinking, young lady.
Detective Miller pulled out a small tool kit from his belt.
He unscrewed the pipe trap beneath the pantry sink carefully.
A few ounces of dark red liquid spilled out into a sterile specimen cup.
Detective Miller: We have our sample.
Arthur: Send it to the lab immediately.
Detective Miller: Now let's find out who destroyed the decanter.
They walked back into the main hallway where the chief butler, Thomas, was standing nervously.
Arthur: Thomas, were you in the pantry just now?
Thomas: Sir, I... I was only cleaning up!
Arthur: Who told you to clean the decanter?
Thomas: Mrs. Sterling called me from the study on her cell phone!
Thomas: She said there was a mess in the sink and promised me ten thousand dollars!
Arthur: You took a bribe to destroy evidence of a crime?
Thomas: I didn't know it was poison, Mr. Sterling! I swear!
Detective Miller: You're coming with us too, Thomas. Tampering with evidence.
Thomas: Please, Mr. Sterling! I have a family!
Arthur: You betrayed my trust for ten thousand dollars, Thomas. You're fired.
The officers cuffed Thomas and led him down the front steps.
Arthur: Victoria was managing this whole thing from the study.
Detective Miller: Let's go talk to your wife now.
They walked down the wide oak corridor toward the heavy study doors.
The security guard standing outside looked pale.
Guard 1: Sir, we have a problem.
Arthur: What problem?
Guard 1: Mrs. Sterling... she isn't answering.
Detective Miller: Unlock the door right now!
The guard turned the key and pushed the heavy wooden door open.
The study window was wide open, the cold night wind blowing the curtains wildly.
Victoria's gold dress was lying on the floor, replaced by a simple dark coat from the closet.
She was gone.