Chapter 15 - False Accusations
We burst into the main lobby,
as panicked customers ran for the doors.
Sirens wailed in the distance,
growing louder,
closer,
more terrifying.
I saw Claire ahead of us,
running through the glass doors,
the duffel bag clutched to her chest.
She didn't wait for us.
She ran straight to the car.
She was escaping with the money.
"Claire!"
I screamed,
but she didn't look back.
She jumped into the rental car,
started the engine,
and sped away,
leaving us stranded on the sidewalk.
The ultimate betrayal,
repeated until the end.
She never cared about me,
or Noah,
only the cash.
The police cars skidded to a halt,
in front of the bank,
doors flying open.
Officers jumped out,
guns drawn,
pointing at the crowd.
"Get on the ground!"
they shouted.
I knelt down,
shielding Noah with my body,
as the rain began to fall again.
A detective walked toward me.
It was the same detective from the station.
"Emma Lawson,"
he said,
putting handcuffs on my wrists.
"You are under arrest."
"For what?"
I cried out,
as Noah screamed in terror.
"For Grand Theft Auto,"
"and bank robbery,"
"and child endangerment."
"No!"
I screamed.
"My husband is downstairs!"
"He's the criminal!"
"We found your car at the cabin,"
the detective said coldly.
"And your father told us everything."
"You stole his documents,"
"and tried to blackmail Ethan."
My father had framed me.
To save his own skin,
and protect the cartel,
he sacrificed his own daughter.
They loaded me into the back of a police cruiser.
Noah was pulled from my arms,
weeping,
screaming for his mommy.
As the car pulled away,
I saw Ethan walk out of the bank.
He wasn't in handcuffs.
He was talking to the police,
smoothly,
calmly,
playing the victim once again.
He had won.
I was in a cage,
and my son was in his hands.
The darkness closed in,
May you like
complete,
and absolute.
