Chapter 3 - The Midnight Struggle
I froze completely as the cold steel pressed harder into my spine.
My mind raced through every self-defense scenario I had been taught at the academy.
I slowly raised my hands in the air to show him I was surrendering.
"Daniel, whatever you are planning to do, it is only going to make things worse," I said evenly.
He let out a low, menacing laugh that sent shivers down my arms.
"You have absolutely no idea how deep this goes, Claire."
He forcefully grabbed my shoulder and spun me around to face him.
In the dim light of my fallen penlight, I saw that he was not holding a gun.
He was holding a heavy bronze paperweight, gripping it like a deadly weapon.
I used the moment of his distraction to strike quickly and decisively.
I drove my palm upward into his chin, snapping his head back with a loud crack.
He stumbled backward, dropping the heavy bronze statue onto the Persian rug.
I didn't wait for him to recover from the stunning blow.
I grabbed the stack of forged documents from the desk and sprinted toward the door.
Vanessa was standing in the hallway, holding a massive kitchen knife.
"Going somewhere?" she sneered, blocking my only path to the front door.
I turned on my heel and bolted toward the back patio instead.
I smashed through the fragile screen door, ignoring the sharp pain as the metal frame sliced my arm.
I sprinted across the dark lawn, clutching the evidence tightly to my chest.
I hid behind the large oak tree near the edge of the property, gasping for breath.
I pulled out my phone and dialed the local emergency dispatcher.
"This is Assistant Attorney General Claire Bennett requesting immediate police backup at 421 Elm Street," I whispered frantically.
The dispatcher remained silent for a long, uncomfortable moment.
"Is this regarding the domestic disturbance reported by Mr. Daniel Bennett?" the operator finally replied.
I frowned in confusion, wiping a drop of warm blood from my arm.
"He just attacked me," I corrected her firmly.
"Actually, ma'am, your brother called us ten minutes ago to report that you were having a violent mental breakdown," the dispatcher said coldly.
"Deputies are already surrounding the perimeter of the property to detain you."
Red and blue lights suddenly erupted from the street, blinding me in the darkness.
May you like
A booming voice echoed over a police megaphone.
"Claire Bennett, step out from behind the tree with your hands empty, or we will release the dogs."
