Chapter 4 - The Mother-in-Law’s Shield

“Patricia Miller,” Detective Vance announced, stepping forward with his handcuffs drawn. “You are under arrest for Aggravated Child Endangerment, Felonious Assault, and Tampering with Evidence.”
“Daniel! Do something!” Patricia screamed, thrashing against the officer’s grip as steel cuffs clicked tightly around her manicured wrists. “Call our estate attorney, Mark Sterling! You tell them your wife provoked me!”
Daniel panicked, reaching out to block Detective Vance. “Officer, wait! My mother has high blood pressure! This is a private family matter! We can resolve this without formal charges!”
Detective Vance turned his piercing gaze onto Daniel. “Interfering with a felony arrest is a crime, Mr. Miller. Back away, or you will join your mother in the back of the cruiser.”
As Patricia was hauled down the hospital corridor in handcuffs, her shrill curses echoing off the linoleum, Dr. Aaron Blake walked out of Trauma Room 4.
His scrubs were stained with saline, his surgical cap was pushed back, and his eyes were tired but steady.
“Dr. Blake!” I rushed forward, my heart in my throat. “Is she... is my baby...?”
“We have a pulse,” Dr. Blake said softly, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “We successfully resuscitated her after six minutes of CPR. Her heart rate has stabilized at 130 beats per minute.”
I collapsed to my knees, weeping tears of overwhelming, agonizing relief.
“However,” Dr. Blake continued carefully, helping me back to my feet, “the CT scan revealed an acute subdural hematoma and an intracranial fracture on the right parietal bone. Lily is in critical condition. We are transferring her immediately to the pediatric neurosurgical ICU under Dr. Robert Hayes.”
Daniel stepped forward, trying to wrap an arm around my waist. “Thank God... Emily, she’s alive. We can get through this together. I’ll make sure Mom pays for her medical bills—”
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I spun on him, knocking his hands away with fierce, unyielding disgust.
“Do not touch me, Daniel,” I hissed. “You stood there and watched your mother strike me. You tried to cover up the attempted murder of your own daughter. You are not a father. You are an accomplice.”