Marcus Sterling burst through the double glass doors of the mansion, his face pale with horror and his necktie loose. He had heard the frantic screaming from his upstairs office where he was reviewing his late wife's will and estate documents. He sprinted across the wet patio tile, his heavy leather shoes slipping slightly on the water that Elena had tracked onto the stone. Victoria threw her arms around Marcus's neck, sobbing hysterically and pointing a shaking red-nailed finger down at Elena, who was still on her knees trying to warm the shivering baby with her own wet shirt.
Victoria: She tried to drown him, Marcus! I saw her push the stroller into the deep end with my own eyes!
Marcus: What did you do to my son?!
Before Elena could explain or even catch her breath, Marcus stepped forward with a roar of rage. He grabbed Elena by the shoulder and shoved her violently backward onto the hard stone tiles. Elena hit the concrete with a dull thud, her elbow scraping sharply against the rough surface as pain shot up her arm. Marcus snatched the crying baby out of her arms, holding the child tightly against his chest while stepping back away from the kneeling maid. Victoria sank to her knees next to her husband, weeping loudly and wrapping her dry silk arms around the baby as if she were the savior.
Marcus: You insane woman! This is my son! How could you do something so evil?!
Elena: No, Mr. Sterling! Listen to me, please! She is lying to you!
Victoria: Get her out of here, Marcus! Call the police before she attacks us again!
Elena wiped the blood and water from her bruised cheek, her eyes fixed on the man who had trusted her for years to care for his home. The pain in her body was nothing compared to the burning rage inside her heart. She knew that if Marcus believed his new wife, she would spend the rest of her life in a federal prison while the real killer raised the innocent child for his mother's inheritance money. She looked up at Marcus, her voice steadying despite the freezing wind that was numbing her bare feet on the stone deck.
Elena: I did not push him! I jumped in to save his life after she pushed him in!
Marcus: Shut up! Why would my wife ever do something like that to her own stepson?!
Victoria: She wanted to ask for ransom money, Marcus! She has been stealing from the house for weeks!
Elena felt her breath catch in her throat as Victoria's lies grew more absurd and dangerous. She knew she had no physical strength left to fight Marcus, and the police would always take the word of a wealthy estate owner over a poor maid. But as she lay on the wet concrete, looking up at the high brick wall that surrounded the pool, her eyes caught something subtle tucked deep inside the dark evergreen leaves of the high hedge. It was small, plastic, and wrapped in thick leaves to hide it from the guests during summer parties. Elena raised her bruised right hand, her pointing finger trembling violently as she raised her voice to a desperate scream.
Elena: Look at the hedge behind the flag! The camera saw everything!
Marcus: What are you talking about? There are no cameras out here.
Elena: Look closely at the bushes, Mr. Sterling! Look at the red light!