Chapter 3 - The Midnight Escape
Raymond violently slammed his heavy fist against the wooden door again, causing the entire frame to rattle uncontrollably.
He furiously shouted my name into the empty hallway, demanding that I unlock and open the door immediately.
Blind panic surged violently through my cold veins like shards of freezing ice.
If Raymond had somehow managed to track me down here, it meant the rest of his dangerous family might not be far behind.
I frantically rushed over to the sagging bed and gently scooped my precious Daisy into my protective arms.
She quietly whimpered in her deep sleep, but thankfully, she did not wake up to the terrifying noise outside.
I quickly grabbed my heavy purse and the small suitcase I had hastily packed before fleeing the apartment.
This cheap motel room had a small, frosted glass window in the back bathroom that led directly out to a rusty fire escape.
I quietly unlocked the metal latch and pushed the stubbornly rusted window open with all the remaining strength I had.
The freezing January wind instantly bit deeply into my exposed skin like a thousand tiny needles.
I cautiously climbed out onto the unstable metal platform, holding my fragile daughter tightly against my racing chest.
Right behind me, I distinctly heard the terrifying sound of old wood violently splintering into pieces.
Raymond was actively trying to kick the locked motel door down with brute force.
I hurried down the icy, slippery metal stairs as fast as I safely could without losing my precarious footing.
We thankfully reached the dark alleyway just as I heard Raymond aggressively burst into the empty motel room far above us.
I ran desperately through the pitch-black shadows until I finally reached the deserted street where I had secretly parked the rental car.
My hands were shaking violently as I frantically fumbled with the plastic electronic car keys.
I finally managed to unlock the back door and quickly secured a still-sleeping Daisy safely in her car seat.
I instantly jumped into the driver's seat, started the engine, and sped recklessly away into the dark Omaha night.
I desperately needed a solid plan, but my exhausted mind was spinning wildly with unimaginable fear and deep confusion.
Suddenly, my cell phone lit up brightly on the dark dashboard console.
It was an unexpected call from a completely unknown number.
I hesitated anxiously for a long moment before finally pressing the answer button to put the caller on speakerphone.
A stern, commanding voice on the other end officially identified himself as a senior detective from the Minneapolis Police Department.
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He coldly and firmly informed me that there was an active, state-wide warrant out for my immediate arrest.
My deceitful husband Mitchell had officially reported me to the authorities for the malicious kidnapping of our daughter.
