Chapter 2
PART 2 : Eighteen months of fear ended with one blue light.
Dominic heard the sirens and froze. Then he glanced through the window, saw blue lights reflecting across the neighbors’ cars, and released me.
Victoria set down her glass. “What did you do?”
Before I could answer, Dominic snatched my phone from the counter and smashed it against the wall. “She called them. Arthur, lock the front door.”
Arthur finally stood, annoyed that the television had been interrupted. “Tell them it was an accident.”
Dominic’s confidence returned instantly. He kicked the broken phone beneath a cabinet, wiped the stove with a towel, and shoved the ruined steak into the trash. Victoria poured wine over the floor near me.
“She slipped,” Victoria said. “She was drunk.”
They rehearsed.
Dominic leaned close enough for me to smell whiskey. “You accuse me, and I’ll tell them you attacked my mother. Three witnesses against one unstable wife. Who do you think they’ll believe?”
The pounding at the front door shook the frame. “Police! Open the door!”
Arthur unlocked it only after Dominic positioned me beside the spilled wine. Four officers entered with body cameras running. Detective Chloe Park came behind them, her expression controlled until she saw my hand.
Dominic spread his arms. “Thank God you’re here. My wife had another episode.”
Victoria nodded solemnly. “She burned herself, then started throwing things.”
Chloe looked at me. We had agreed on a phrase if I was in immediate danger. “I’m sorry dinner was disappointing,” I whispered.
Her gaze hardened.
An officer moved between Dominic and me. Another guided Victoria and Arthur apart. Dominic began protesting, but Chloe raised her phone.
“Interesting story,” she said. “Would you like to hear yours?”
She played the recording. Dominic’s voice filled the kitchen: Maybe now you’ll learn not to ruin my dinner. Victoria’s laughter followed. Arthur turning up the television sounded louder than I remembered.
All three faces emptied.
May you like
Dominic lunged for Chloe’s phone. Two officers slammed him against the refrigerator and cuffed him. Victoria shrieked that the footage was illegal. Arthur demanded a lawyer.
Chloe knelt beside me. “Ambulance is outside. You’re safe now.”
