The hospital waiting room was quiet and smelled strongly of disinfectant. Marcus sat on the hard plastic chair near the emergency room doors, his hands clasped tightly between his knees. The flash drive was heavy in his coat pocket. After thirty painful minutes of waiting, the heavy double doors opened, and a doctor in blue scrubs walked out toward him, smiling softly.
Doctor: Mr. Vance? Your sister is stable. The baby is doing fine. There's no internal bleeding, just some bad bruises and mild shock.
Marcus let out a long breath he felt like he had been holding for hours. He covered his face with his hands for a quick moment, sending up a silent prayer of relief. He thanked the doctor and walked straight into Clara's room.
Clara was sitting up in the hospital bed, an IV line hooked to her arm, resting her hand gently over her stomach. When she saw Marcus walk in, her eyes welled up with tears.
Clara: Is the baby okay, Marcus? Did the doctor tell you?
Marcus: The baby is safe, Clara. You're both going to be fine. I'm so sorry I didn't protect you in my own home.
Clara: She took the files from my bag, Marcus. She knew I figured out what she was doing with the estate trust. She pushed me so I wouldn't talk to you.
Marcus: She won't ever hurt you again, Clara. I have the entire thing recorded on high-definition video from the foyer camera.
He pulled out his phone and showed her the police report number he had already filed from his car while driving over. Just as he was putting his phone away, two uniformed police officers walked into the hospital hallway outside Clara's room. Marcus stepped out to meet them, handing over the USB flash drive containing the clear video footage along with the estate financial records.
Officer: Mr. Vance, with this video footage and the financial records, we have more than enough for an arrest warrant for aggravated assault and grand theft fraud.
Marcus: She is still at the house. Please make sure she is removed immediately.
An hour later, Marcus returned to the estate alongside his divorce attorney. As his car pulled up the long driveway, he saw two police cruisers parked out front with their red and blue lights flashing against the white mansion pillars. Two officers were leading Vanessa down the front marble steps in handcuffs. Her red dress was crumpled, her hair was messy, and she was sobbing loudly as neighbors watched from down the street.
She looked at Marcus as she was led toward the back seat of the police car, her eyes filled with desperation and regret. Marcus stood by his car, his expression cold and unmoving. He didn't say a single word to her as the rear door clicked shut, sealing her fate.