Chapter 3 - Emily's CourageDoctors kept Emily in the hospital for nearly a week.
She didn't announce herself.
Years of military service had taught her that surprise could save lives.
The house smelled of whiskey and expensive perfume.
Laughter drifted down the hallway.
Laura's phone continued recording from inside her jacket pocket.
She stepped into the master bedroom.
Her husband, Daniel, looked up first.
His smile disappeared instantly.
"Laura..."
Serena gasped and grabbed the bedsheet around herself.
"What are you doing here?" Daniel demanded.
Laura stared at the broken picture frame lying on the bedroom floor.
It was the family photo Emily had given them on Father's Day.
Its glass was shattered.
"So this," Laura said quietly, "was worth throwing your own daughter down the stairs?"
Daniel's face hardened.
"She fell."
"No."
"You pushed her."
Serena suddenly stood.
"Emily is making up stories."
Laura calmly held up her phone.
"Good."
"You can repeat that for the recording."
Daniel lunged toward her.
Before he could grab the phone—
Red and blue lights flashed through the front windows.
Police vehicles pulled into the driveway.
Detective Marcus Vale entered with two uniformed officers.
"No one move."
Daniel froze.
Laura stepped aside.
"The house is yours."
Detectives immediately photographed the staircase.
A child's backpack still lay near the bottom.
One pink sneaker had come off during the fall.
Drops of blood stained the wooden steps.
The lead crime-scene technician looked toward Marcus.
"These blood drops begin halfway up the staircase."
Marcus slowly turned toward Daniel.
"You said she fell from the top."
Daniel didn't answer.
One officer quietly placed handcuffs on Serena.
Another read Daniel his rights.
As they were escorted outside, Daniel looked back at Laura.
"You'd destroy our family over one accident?"
May you like
Laura's eyes never left him.
"You destroyed it when you hurt our daughter."
