Chapter 1 - The Missing Evidence
The heavy Ohio rain continued to wash over the windshield of the ruined Honda.
Claire sat perfectly still while the dispatch operator assured her that police were on the way.
She ended the call and slipped the phone securely into her deep coat pocket.
Margaret stood on the porch with a look of pure hatred masking her previously smug smile.
Paige nervously flicked her cigarette into the wet grass and stepped back toward the front door.
A police cruiser turned onto Pine Hollow Road with its blue and red lights flashing through the gray morning.
The cruiser pulled into the driveway and stopped directly behind Claire’s damaged vehicle.
Officer Miller stepped out into the rain and adjusted his heavy utility belt.
Claire immediately stepped out of her car and shielded Ava from the cold downpour.
She explained exactly what had happened to the brakes and pointed at the leaking brake fluid near the rear tire.
Officer Miller shined his flashlight under the car and nodded his head slowly.
Margaret suddenly rushed off the porch, waving her hands frantically in the air.
She told the officer that Claire was suffering from severe paranoia and had intentionally crashed the car to get attention.
Paige eagerly chimed in, claiming she had watched Claire yank the emergency brake for absolutely no reason.
Officer Miller looked at Claire with a deep sigh and asked if she had any solid proof to support her wild accusations.
Claire confidently reached into her coat pocket to retrieve her phone and show him the security footage.
She tapped the screen to open the video gallery, but the folder was completely empty.
A cold panic washed over her as she checked her sent messages and saw that her previous emails had vanished.
May you like
Margaret offered a cruel, victorious smirk from behind the police officer.
Officer Miller pulled out a pair of metal handcuffs and told Claire she was being arrested for child endangerment.
