Chapter 3 - THE FIRST LIE
The police arrived with surprising speed.
Two officers entered through the front door while paramedics rushed to Grace.
The older officer looked at Nathan.
“Mr. Cole?”
“Yes.”
“We received a report of an attempted kidnapping.”
“Kidnapping?”
“She tried to take the child.”
“What?”
Victoria pointed at her.
“She threatened me. She said she was leaving the country with Lily and wanted money.”
“Who called you?”
“Anonymous.”
Grace whispered, “Victoria.”
Victoria snapped, “You can’t prove that.”
The officer turned to Grace.
“Ma’am, do you have identification?”
“Yes.”
“Passport?”
“At my apartment.”
Victoria immediately said, “See?”
The officer asked, “Are you planning international travel?”
“No.”
“Do you have legal custody of the child?”
“I’m her mother.”
“That wasn’t the question.”
“She needs medical care.”
The second officer looked at the hockey stick.
“Who used that?”
Victoria said, “Grace.”
Grace’s face went blank.
“She attacked me.”
The first officer looked between them.
Then a paramedic spoke.
“Her shoulder injury is consistent with being struck from behind.”
The officer bent and picked up the hockey stick with gloves.
Nathan said, “Check the security cameras.”
“The kitchen camera has been broken for weeks.”
The small black dome was dark.
“Who disabled it?”
Victoria said, “Probably staff.”
Grace whispered, “She did.”
The older officer sighed.
“We’ll sort this out downtown.”
Nathan said, “Nobody is taking Grace anywhere except the hospital.”
The officer looked annoyed.
“She hit Mommy.”
Lily pointed at Victoria.
“With that.”
Victoria’s lips parted.
The child added, “She said I was a mistake.”
“Kids repeat things.”
“She said you would never want me.”
“I don’t know everything yet.”
“But nobody gets to tell you what I want.”
The police officer’s radio crackled.
“Ma’am, we have another issue.”
“What?”
“Your vehicle has been flagged.”
“I don’t have a vehicle.”
The officer looked at his screen.
“According to the system, you rented an SUV this morning.”
May you like
Nathan’s blood went cold.
“And there’s a child passport application inside.”
