Chapter 4: The Voice from the Void

The scuffle was brutally brief.

Evan, fueled by pure, unadulterated panic, collided with the lectern, sending the arrangement of white lilies crashing to the marble floor in an explosion of petals and stagnant water.

But before his fingers could grasp the small black flash drive, Detective Miller’s heavy hand clamped down on his tailored shoulder, violently spinning him around.

“Back away from the altar, Mr. Vale,” Detective Miller barked, his voice a gravelly command that cut through the sudden screams of the congregation.

Evan threw a wild, uncoordinated punch, but the detective smoothly dodged it, sweeping Evan’s legs out from under him and driving him hard into the stone floor.

The sickening thud of expensive bone meeting ancient rock echoed through the nave.