Officer Davis led Evelyn away in handcuffs, her heels clicking frantically against the driveway as she screamed insults into the night air. Marcus sat down heavily on the marble bottom step, burying his head in his hands.
Marcus: She was going to sacrifice our daughter just to hurt me in a divorce settlement.
Clara: She has been planning this for weeks, Mr. Vance. Not just today.
Marcus: What do you mean? What else do you know?
Clara: Look at the maintenance log for the house cameras. The upstairs camera wasn't broken by accident. Check the main circuit breaker box in the garage.
Marcus looked up, his eyes sharp with sudden suspicion. He stood up and walked briskly toward the side garage door, with Clara following a few paces behind.
Marcus: The breaker panel... the wire to the second-floor hallway feed is cut clean through.
Clara: She asked me three days ago where the main wire cutters were kept in your workbench.
Marcus: My God. She planned the whole thing. She cut the wire, waited for me to arrive home from the office, and pushed the carriage right as my car pulled into the driveway.
Clara: She knew you would enter through the front doors at exactly 5:15 PM. You arrive at the same time every day.
Marcus: She wanted me to walk in right as the baby hit the floor, or right after... and see you standing there.
Clara: If I hadn't caught Lily, your child would be in the hospital, and I would be in a county jail cell right now facing legal prosecution for felony reckless endangerment.
Marcus: Clara... I almost helped her complete her crime. I pointed my finger at you. I called you a murderer.
Clara: You did. And that is something money cannot instantly fix, Mr. Vance.
Marcus: Name your price. A trust fund, a cash settlement, a raise—anything. Just tell me how to make this right.
Clara: I don't want your cash settlement, Mr. Vance. I want you to look at how you treat the people who serve you in this house.
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