Chapter 2 – The Call That Changed Everything
The foyer fell silent except for Vanessa's dramatic sobs.
She clung to Martha, the elderly caretaker, burying her face against the older woman's shoulder.
"I didn't mean to push her!" she cried. "She slipped! She's trying to blame me!"
Martha looked down at Olivia, who was still lying on the hardwood landing with one hand protecting her eight-month pregnant belly.
"Olivia," Martha pleaded, "don't move. An ambulance is coming."
Olivia nodded weakly.
"I know."
No one noticed the tiny red light blinking beneath the neckline of her maternity dress.
A body camera.
Still recording.
Three minutes later, the front door burst open.
Detective Gabriel Ruiz entered with two uniformed officers, followed by paramedics.
Vanessa looked stunned.
"You called the police?"
Ruiz didn't answer her.
Instead, he walked directly to Olivia.
"You and the baby?"
"We're alive," Olivia replied quietly.
"Good."
Ruiz looked around the foyer.
"Seal the house."
The officers immediately locked every entrance.
Vanessa frowned.
"What is this?"
Ruiz calmly removed a folder from his briefcase.
"For the last month, we've been investigating a series of suspicious incidents involving Mrs. Hayes."
"The cut brake line."
"The poisoned prenatal vitamins."
"The nursery gas leak."
"The chandelier cable that was partially severed."
Each sentence made Vanessa's face grow paler.
Ruiz continued.
"Mrs. Hayes agreed to help us identify the person responsible."
Olivia slowly sat up as the paramedics examined her.
"I knew whoever wanted my baby gone would try one last time."
She touched the small camera hidden beneath her dress.
"So today..."
"I made sure they would succeed."
Vanessa's eyes widened.
"You wanted this to happen?"
"No," Olivia answered.
"I wanted the truth."
Ruiz held up a tablet.
The live recording from Olivia's hidden camera filled the screen.
Vanessa's voice echoed through the foyer.
"Once you lose that baby, Ethan will finally belong to me."
Then the unmistakable image appeared.
Vanessa extending both hands...
And deliberately shoving Olivia down the staircase.
May you like
No one spoke.
Not even Martha.
