Inheritance Redefined

Chapter Twelve

"Legs higher, Elara! You're not dragging a sandbag!"Coach Marchesi's voice ricocheted across the empty rink.

Elara clenched her jaw and pushed harder through the spin. Her thighs burned. Her back was already screaming.

If I lift them any higher, I'll launch myself into orbit, she thought.

The music cut. Elara stumbled out of her landing, barely sticking it.

"Your getting better Elara." Coach Marchesi muttered, scribbling something on a clipboard. "Go cool down and stretch. I'll see you tomorrow. Have a nice evening Elara. Rest up. You look like you need it."

Elara nodded with heavy breath as she slid off the ice. Her whole body ached from the school day, and now skating had wrung the last bit of energy from her. She sat on the bench, undoing her skates with shaking fingers.

Her phone buzzed.

Alessandro:
Driver's stuck in traffic. Stay inside. He'll be about 20 minutes late.

Elara texted back a thumbs up emoji, tossed her phone beside her bag and leaned her head against the wall. She closed her eyes. Just for a second.

She didn't hear the police until they were right in front of her.

A man and a woman, both in dark uniforms, expressions like concrete.

"You the Calviero girl?" the man said.

Elara blinked up at him. "I - yes?"

"We need to speak with you back at the station. Get up."

Elara stood slowly, heart skipping a beat. "What is this about?"

"There's an active investigation," the woman said, her tone sharp and cold. "Steroids were found in the locker room. Your name came up."

"But I don't even use the lockers here."

"Don't make this difficult," the man snapped. "Hands behind your back."

"What? I said I'd come."

"Hands. Now."

Before Elara could argue again, the woman yanked her arms behind her and cuffed her wrists tightly - tighter than necessary. The cold metal bit into her skin.

"Ow," Elara flinched. "That's too tight."

"You'll be fine, princess," the woman muttered, rolling her eyes.

As they marched her out of the building, the man added under his breath, "Figures. Even her eyes look crooked. Freak."

The woman laughed and yanked her harder than needed and almost throwing her into the back of the police car.

Elara stiffened, her heart thudding harder than ever in her chest. But she said nothing.

---

The interrogation room was silent. Elara felt claustrophobic.Her wrists still throbbed in the cuffs.

She sat alone at the metal table, her back straight, shoulders trembling. It had been at least ten minutes. No one had offered her water or a phone call.

Then the door opened. The same two officers walked in. Their faces colder than before. Elara bit back her tears.

The woman dropped a file on the table and sat. The man remained standing.

"Well?" she said, voice dry. "You going to start, or should we?"

Elara blinked. "Start what?"

The woman slammed a photo down. A blurry image of a vial. "This was found in a locker. You know what it is?"