Chapter 11 - The Arrest
Travis was arrested in the courthouse parking garage.
Detective Ortiz later explained that prosecutors had reviewed the evidence.
They believed his conduct went beyond negligence.
The exact charges would depend on the final medical findings and prosecutorial review.
But he was being taken in.
Deborah tried interfering.
That turned out badly.
She grabbed Detective Ortiz's arm.
Another officer immediately separated them.
Richard shouted.
Lauren stood twenty feet away and said nothing.
Travis looked at his mother while officers placed him in handcuffs.
“You told me she was exaggerating.”
Deborah stared back.
“I didn't make you leave.”
“You told me not to turn around.”
“You're an adult.”
Travis actually laughed.
It wasn't amusement.
It sounded broken.
“All my life you told me family means doing what you say.”
Deborah lowered her voice.
“Don't you dare blame me.”
Detective Ortiz guided Travis toward the cruiser.
Before he entered, he looked back at his mother.
For the first time, he seemed to understand something I had learned much earlier.
Deborah's loyalty ended the moment consequences began.
That evening, Noah came off respiratory support.
I cried harder than I had when Travis was arrested.
Ava was already breathing beautifully on her own.
Dr. Chen expected both babies to remain in the hospital for monitoring.
But their progress was encouraging.
I should have finally been able to rest.
Instead, Cassandra arrived with more news.
“Deborah hired an attorney.”
“I’m not surprised.”
“She also contacted your homeowners insurance.”
I frowned.
“Why?”
“She says she was financially contributing to the property.”
I almost laughed.
“She bought groceries twice.”
“Apparently she thinks that entitles her to an ownership interest.”
“She can think whatever she wants.”
Cassandra hesitated.
“That isn't the concerning part.”
“What is?”
“She went to your house this morning.”
My body stiffened.
“What?”
“Your camera company sent an alert.”
“She tried accessing the side door.”
“Did she get inside?”
“No.”
“The locks were changed after the police released the scene.”
I felt relief.
Then Cassandra continued.
“But she wasn't alone.”
She turned her tablet toward me.
The security image showed Deborah standing at the door.
Beside her was a man wearing a contractor jacket.
He carried a black tool case.
I recognized him.
Gary Mills.
A family friend.
And an alarm technician.
Cassandra enlarged the image.
“He appears to have been attempting to disable your camera system.”
My stomach twisted.
“Why?”
“I think we need to ask what Deborah believed was still recorded inside that house.”
That question followed me through the night.
Because I suddenly remembered something.
Our living-room camera stored thirty days of audio.
And Deborah had been staying with us for nearly two weeks before I went into labor.
May you like
There might be far more on that system than the day she abandoned me.
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