Chapter 2 - The Ambulance ArrivesThe sirens reached the neighborhood in less than six minutes.
By then, the birthday party had dissolved into chaos.
Children had been rushed inside the house.
Parents stood frozen around the patio, staring at Claire lying in a pool of blood.
Richard still held the bent aluminum crutch.
Officer Daniel Harper was the first to step through the backyard gate.
His eyes immediately locked onto the scene.
"Drop the crutch."
Richard hesitated.
"I said now."
The crutch clattered onto the concrete.
Paramedics rushed to Claire.
One carefully stabilized her neck while another examined the deep wound along her scalp.
"She's losing blood."
"We need a trauma center."
Claire slowly opened her eyes.
Her voice was barely audible.
"My...bag..."
A paramedic retrieved her shoulder bag.
Inside were neatly organized folders.
Bank statements.
Medical records.
Insurance documents.
And a signed affidavit from a forensic accountant.
Officer Harper opened the first page.
His expression changed immediately.
The transfers totaled...
$45,000.
Each withdrawal had been made over several weeks.
Each authorization contained an electronic signature.
One problem...
The attached forensic report concluded every signature had been forged.
Officer Harper slowly looked toward Richard.
"Sir..."
"When exactly did you receive permission to access these funds?"
Richard swallowed.
"It was...family money."
Claire forced herself to speak.
"It paid...for my surgery..."
The paramedics loaded her into the ambulance.
Before the doors closed, she whispered one final sentence.
"My lawyer..."
"...already has everything."
Less than twenty minutes later, attorney Rebecca Collins arrived.
She wasn't alone.
Beside her stood private investigator Michael Torres.
He carried three sealed evidence boxes.
"I've been documenting this family for four months," Michael told detectives.
"Financial records."
"Hidden recordings."
"Bank surveillance."
"Witness interviews."
Linda's face turned white.
"What recordings?"
Michael calmly opened a laptop.
The first video appeared.
Richard sitting inside his study.
"We'll just borrow it."
"She won't fight us."
Another recording.
Mark laughing.
"She can't even walk."
"What's she going to do?"
Then...
Linda.
"If she misses surgery, maybe she'll finally stop depending on us."
The backyard became completely silent.
Several guests quietly began crying.
May you like
One woman whispered,
"My God..."
