Chapter 4 - Uniforms in the Hallway
The flashing red and blue lights painted the walls of my living room, cutting through the darkness of the storm outside. A sharp knock at the door signaled the arrival of the paramedics, closely followed by two police officers in heavy rain gear.
As soon as the door opened and Claire saw the dark blue uniforms, panic seized her. Her breathing hitched, and she scrambled backward against the baseboard, her eyes wide with a feral sort of terror.
"No police," she begged, her voice cracking as tears mingled with the dried blood on her face. "Make them leave. Please."
The taller of the two officers raised his hands gently, stepping back to give her space. "Ma'am, we're just here to make sure you're safe."
"He said he’d ruin me," Claire sobbed, shaking her head frantically. "He said if I ever told anyone, he would destroy my life. He said everyone would believe him because he's respected, and I'm just... I'm just me."
The paramedics moved in slowly, opening their medical kits and speaking in hushed, soothing tones, checking her vitals and examining her bruised face. I knelt beside the stretcher they had rolled into the hallway, taking Claire’s cold, trembling hand in mine.
"Claire, listen to me," I said, making sure she locked eyes with me.
"He has all the power," she cried softly.
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"Then we won’t ask anyone to believe us," I promised, squeezing her fingers. "We don't need them to just take our word for it. We’re going to prove it. I promise you, we will prove every single thing he has done."
The paramedics gently lifted her onto the stretcher. I grabbed my coat and my laptop bag, giving the officers my statement as we moved toward the elevator. The wheels of the justice system were slow, but they were finally turning. Daniel's reign of terror in the shadows was officially over.
