Chapter 6 – The Woman in the Video
The hospital conference room was silent except for the faint hum of the laptop.
Detective Sarah Monroe pressed the space bar.
The surveillance footage began to play.
The timestamp in the corner read 8:42 p.m.
Emily appeared first, leaving the ballroom with one hand resting protectively over her pregnant belly. Her pace was slow, her shoulders tense. Seconds later, Margaret stepped into the hallway, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor.
Neither woman could be heard, but their body language said enough.
Margaret pointed a finger inches from Emily's face.
Emily shook her head and tried to walk away.
"Pause it," Monroe said.
The forensic technician froze the image.
"Zoom in."
The screen enlarged until Margaret's hands were clearly visible.
"Continue."
Emily took one more step toward the exit.
Then it happened.
Margaret lunged forward.
Both hands struck Emily squarely between the shoulders.
Emily's body pitched forward. She reached desperately for the banister but missed it by inches.
She tumbled down the marble staircase.
The footage ended with Margaret standing perfectly still.
She didn't run to help.
She didn't call for assistance.
She simply looked around the hallway before taking a cautious step toward the bottom of the stairs.
The room remained quiet.
Finally, one of the officers spoke.
"That doesn't look like an accident."
"It isn't," Monroe replied.
She closed the laptop and looked at the district attorney's investigator who had just entered.
"I'm requesting that Mrs. Margaret Carter be charged with aggravated assault resulting in the death of an unborn child."
The investigator nodded.
"I'll prepare the paperwork."
Across town, Margaret sat alone inside her attorney's office.
Richard Lawson had represented the Carter family for nearly twenty-five years.
He placed a legal pad on the desk and folded his hands.
"I need you to tell me exactly what happened."
Margaret looked away.
"I barely touched her."
Lawson studied her expression.
Then his phone vibrated.
He watched the video file Detective Monroe had just forwarded under a court order.
His face slowly lost all color.
When the video ended, he locked the phone and set it on the desk.
For nearly a minute, he said nothing.
Finally, he looked at his longtime client.
"You didn't barely touch her."
His voice was flat.
"You pushed her."
Margaret's lips trembled.
Lawson sighed heavily.
"And unless a miracle happens..."
May you like
He closed the file.
"...you're going to prison."
