Chapter 5 - The Forensic Intake
Two female paramedic detectives from the Cook County Special Victims Unit entered the dining room carrying medical forensic kits.
Detective Sarah Jenkins knelt beside Claire, gently cutting away the fabric of her yellow gown to document the extensive injuries beneath.
"Multiple deep contusions across the clavicle, severe hematoma on the left bicep, and acute subluxation of the glenohumeral joint," Detective Jenkins reported into her audio recorder, taking high-resolution digital photographs of the injuries. "Defensive bruising consistent with blunt force compression and physical pinning against a hard stone surface."
Megan stepped forward, handing a silver USB flash drive to Commissioner Miller.
"What is that, Megan?!" Grant screamed, his face turning an ugly, mottled purple.
"It's the security cloud backup from the living room cameras, Grant," Megan cried, her voice trembling with righteous fury. "You thought you deleted the local hard drive after you attacked Claire yesterday, but the system auto-synced to my private tablet. I have the entire assault on video."
Commissioner Miller plugged the drive into a handheld forensic monitor. Within seconds, the horrific audio of Grant shouting obscenities, throwing Claire into the marble fireplace, and pinning her arm behind her back echoed through the dining room.
"Shut it off! Shut it off!" Evelyn wailed, covering her ears.
"Detective," Commissioner Miller commanded, his jaw set like iron. "Cuff him."
Two uniformed officers moved forward, grabbing Grant’s arms and forcing him face-down onto the granite dining table. The porcelain plates and silver flatware clattered as the cold steel handcuffs clicked tightly around Grant’s wrists.
"Victoria! Claire!" Grant yelled, struggling against the officers' grip. "You can't do this to me! I'm your husband! Claire, tell them to stop! You swore your vows!"
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Claire stood up from her chair, supported by Detective Jenkins. She looked at the man who had terrorized her for two years, her tears stopping as a fierce, newfound strength filled her eyes.
"My vows were to a husband, Grant," Claire said with quiet, unyielding finality. "Not a monster."
