Chapter 6 - The Sheriff's Demand
The metallic click of the sheriff un-holstering his gun echoed in the cab.
"Give me the child, Eleanor," he demanded, keeping the barrel pointed at my chest.
"You have no right to do this, Thomas," I snapped back, masking my terror with anger.
"This baby belongs with her mother, not some black market buyer."
Thomas sneered, resting his hand on the window frame.
"Carter owes a lot of powerful people a lot of money," he explained coldly.
"This little brat is his only ticket to clearing that debt."
Maya's hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white.
"I will pay the debt," Maya pleaded, tears streaming down her face.
"I will give you whatever you want, just let us go to the hospital."
Thomas laughed, a hollow sound that lacked any empathy.
"Your money is locked up in trusts, Maya," he said dismissively.
"The buyer has liquid cash, and he wants the infant delivered tonight."
He reached through the broken window, trying to grab the blanket wrapped around Lily.
I leaned away from him, shielding the baby with my own body.
"Do it now, Maya!" I screamed.
Maya did not hesitate.
She slammed her foot onto the gas pedal.
The truck surged forward with a massive roar, catching Thomas off guard.
The heavy frame of the door clipped his shoulder, spinning him around.
He fired a wild shot that shattered our side mirror, but we were already moving.
Maya swerved back onto the highway, pushing the old engine to its absolute limit.
"Is Lily okay?" she cried out, checking the rearview mirror for headlights.
I looked down at the tiny bundle in my arms.
Lily was quiet, dangerously quiet, and her breathing was growing shallow.
"We have to get her to a doctor immediately," I warned Maya.
"Thomas will call for backup," Maya said, her voice trembling.
"Every cop in this county works for him, so we cannot go to the main hospital."
I remembered a small veterinary clinic a few miles down the back roads.
The veterinarian was an old friend of my late husband who owed us a favor.
"Take the next exit toward Miller's Farm," I instructed her.
Maya nodded and sharply turned the wheel, sending us down a dark, winding road.
We drove for ten minutes in complete silence, praying we were not followed.
We finally saw the glowing neon sign of the rural animal clinic ahead.
Maya pulled into the gravel driveway and killed the engine.
We grabbed Lily and sprinted toward the back door of the clinic.
I pounded on the heavy metal door with my fists.
May you like
The door slowly swung open, but it was not my old friend standing there.
It was Carter, holding a bloody scalpel, and smiling right at us.
