Inside were a prepaid emergency phone, an external battery, copies of the forged documents, and a small recorder containing Margaret’s voice two weeks earlier.
“She’s useless when she’s hurt,” Margaret said at the kitchen table, unaware that the vase in the center of the table contained a microphone.
“Get her strong enough and she’ll sign anything. »
I lit the phone.
A signal bar.
Enough.
My first call was 911.
My voice came out weak, but clear.
“My husband and mother-in-law assaulted me, took my prescribed medication and locked me in a cold garage after an orthopaedic operation. »
“I have the femur fractured. »
“I am in danger. »
The tone of the operator changed instantly.
“Stay with me, madam. »
“The rescue is on the way. »
My second call was for Mara.
She answered the first ring.
“Claire? »
“Trigger it,” I murmured.
There was a second of silence.
His voice became hard as steel.
“Everything? »
I looked at the flashing blue light from the camera.
“Everything. »
In the house, footsteps approached.
Daniel’s voice went through the door.
“Claire? Ready to behave yourself? »
Margaret added: “Open only if she accepts. »
I slipped the phone under my coat and fixed the door.
For the first time that night, I smiled.
They attacked the wrong woman.
Part 3
Daniel unlocked the garage door with the expression of a king visiting a prisoner.
Margaret stood behind him, my medicine bottle in hand, waving him like a little trophy.
“So, then? “,” she said.
“Are we done with this stubbornness number? »
I stood on the concrete, pale, trembling, but calm.
Daniel approached.
“Say you’re going to sign. »
“Then we’ll call it a misunderstanding. »
“A misunderstanding? ,” I repeated.
His eyes squinted.
“Be careful. »
“No,” I said softly.
“You should be careful. »
Red and blue lights passed through the garage window.
Margaret is freezing.
Daniel turned just as fists were hammering the front door.
“Police! Open up! »
For the first time since I married him, Daniel really looked scared.
“What have you done? ,” he spit.
I looked up at the corner of the garage.
The tiny blue light flashed faithfully in the darkness.
“I have documented you. »
The police quickly entered.
The paramedics followed.
