The paramedics arrived within five minutes, filling the bright foyer with heavy equipment bags and urgent instructions. Arthur stayed glued to Lily's side, holding her uninjured hand while they stabilized her wrist and placed a neck brace on her for safety.
Paramedic: Sir, we need to transport her to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital right away. Her wrist is definitely fractured, and we need full X-rays on her back.
Arthur: I'm coming with you in the rig.
Officer Davis: Mr. Vance? I’m Officer Davis. We got the call about a domestic incident involving a child fall.
Arthur pointed directly at Evelyn, who was standing near the dining room doorway with her arms crossed defensively over her chest.
Arthur: My daughter told me her stepmother pushed her off the second-floor balcony after a dispute over a photo frame. I want a full report taken before anyone touches anything in this house.
Evelyn: Officer, this is a complete misunderstanding caused by a grieving father's hysteria. The child slipped. I reached out to grab her, but I missed.
Officer Davis: Ma'am, we'll take everyone's statement separately. Is there anyone else who lives in the home?
Arthur: Just the three of us and our housekeeper, Maria, but Maria had the afternoon off.
Officer Davis: Alright. Sir, go with your daughter to the hospital. My partner will stay here to secure the scene and document the balcony area.
Arthur: Evelyn, don't touch anything on that second floor. If I find out you moved a single piece of evidence, I'll have my legal team file for an emergency restraining order before the sun goes down.
Evelyn: Threaten me all you want, Arthur. The truth is on my side.
Arthur rode in the back of the ambulance, holding Lily’s small hand as the vehicle sped toward the hospital. The steady beep of the heart monitor filled the small space, matching the pounding beat in his chest.
Lily: Daddy... is Evelyn coming to the hospital?
Arthur: No, baby. She’s not coming anywhere near you ever again. I promise you that.
Lily: She took Mommy's framed picture... the one from the beach before Mommy got sick. She threw it over the edge first, Daddy. It broke when it hit the floor.
Arthur paused, looking down at his daughter with a sudden realization. He remembered sprinting through the front door and seeing Lily on the floor, but he hadn't seen any broken glass or a picture frame anywhere near her on the oak wood.
Arthur: Lily... was there glass on the floor when you fell?
Lily: Yes... the frame broke into pieces right next to my head. Evelyn picked it up before you came inside...
Arthur: She cleaned up the glass before opening the door?
Lily: She threw the broken pieces into her big designer purse in the hallway closet...
Arthur felt a cold wave of anger wash over him. Evelyn hadn't been checking on the falling child; she had been covering her tracks in the thirty seconds it took him to walk from his car to the front door.
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