Chapter 5 - The First Calls
The hospital room was completely silent, save for the rhythmic beating of my daughter’s heart on the monitor. I sat up in bed, ignoring the dull ache in my lower back, and pulled the emergency phone from the folds of my hospital gown.
It was time to dismantle Derek’s world.
At exactly 11:17 p.m., I dialed the personal cell phone of Marcus Vance, the general manager of the luxury dealership where I had purchased the SUV. Because I had paid entirely in cash, Marcus had happily given me his direct line.
“Marcus? It’s Lena Grant,” I said when he answered, sounding groggy.
“Lena? It’s late. Is everything alright with the new vehicle?”
“There’s been a complication,” I said, my voice smooth and authoritative. “At precisely midnight tonight, I need you to remotely disable the vehicle’s digital access. Kill the engine immobilizer and flag the internal system for unauthorized possession.”
“Unauthorized? Lena, did someone steal it?”
“You could say that,” I replied. “Just ensure the car won’t start when the clock strikes twelve.”
“Consider it done, Mrs. Grant.”
I hung up and immediately dialed my lawyer, Naomi Chen. Naomi wasn’t just a family attorney; she was a shark who specialized in high-net-worth divorces and asset recovery. She answered on the first ring.
“Lena. I saw your emergency signal. What happened?”
“Derek pushed me out of the car on Interstate 89 and drove away. I’m currently under observation at Cedar Ridge Memorial.”
I heard a sharp intake of breath, followed by the sound of a notebook opening.
“Are you and the baby okay?” she asked, all business.
“We are. The contractions have slowed. But I am done waiting, Naomi.”
“Are you ready to pull the trigger on everything?” she asked.
May you like
I looked at the fetal monitor, the green line jumping with steady, bright life.
“Yes,” I said. “Light the match.”
