Chapter 2 - Fired Before Sunset
Noah was taken to the hospital.
Maya was not allowed to go.
Instead, she sat soaked and barefoot in Ethan’s kitchen while two police officers questioned her.
“Why were you responsible for the child?”
“I’m his housekeeper. Sometimes I help with Noah.”
“Sometimes?”
“His nanny called in sick.”
Vanessa sat across the room wrapped in Ethan’s jacket.
Maya wanted to laugh.
Vanessa hadn’t gotten wet.
She hadn’t touched the pool.
Yet somehow she looked like the victim.
Officer Randall turned toward her.
“Ms. Hart, tell me exactly what you saw.”
Vanessa inhaled shakily.
“Maya was standing behind the stroller.”
“No.”
Randall raised a hand.
“Let her finish.”
Vanessa continued.
“She looked toward the house. Then she pushed it.”
Maya slammed her palm against the table.
“That is a lie!”
“Ms. Reed.”
“I jumped into the pool!”
“That doesn’t prove you didn’t push him.”
Maya stared at him.
“So I tried to drown a baby and then nearly drowned myself saving him?”
Vanessa whispered, “Maybe you panicked.”
Maya stood.
“You planned this.”
Ethan appeared in the doorway.
Everyone went silent.
He had returned from the hospital.
His expensive white shirt was wrinkled.
His face looked ten years older.
Maya ran toward him.
“How is Noah?”
“He’s stable.”
She closed her eyes.
“Thank God.”
“The doctor says he should recover.”
Maya’s knees almost gave out.
Then Ethan continued.
“The police found something.”
Her relief disappeared.
Officer Randall placed a small metal tool inside an evidence bag.
A screwdriver.
Maya recognized it immediately.
“That’s mine.”
“It was found beside the stroller,” Randall said.
Maya looked at Ethan.
“I use it to tighten the cabinet handles.”
Vanessa whispered, “Or loosen the stroller brake.”
Maya turned toward her.
“What?”
Randall leaned forward.
“The rear brake assembly had been tampered with.”
“No.”
“One screw was almost completely removed.”
Maya shook her head.
“No. No, I never touched it.”
Vanessa started crying harder.
Ethan stared at Maya.
“You told me yesterday that the stroller wheel was sticking.”
“Yes.”
“So you worked on it?”
“I checked the wheel. I didn’t touch the brake.”
“With that screwdriver?”
Maya hesitated.
“Yes.”
Vanessa looked horrified.
“That’s why I saw it in her pocket this morning.”
Maya lunged forward.
“You lying—”
Randall caught her arm.
“Sit down!”
Ethan’s expression hardened.
Maya stopped fighting.
She looked directly at him.
“You know me.”
“I thought I did.”
That hurt more than the accusation.
“Ethan…”
“You’re fired.”
Vanessa looked down to hide the smallest smile.
Maya saw it.
Her chest burned.
“You’re making a mistake.”
“My son almost died.”
“I saved your son.”
“I can’t take that chance.”
Maya stared at him.
“Then look me in the eye when you throw me out.”
He did.
And for the first time, she saw uncertainty.
But he still said, “Pack your things.”
Maya walked upstairs with a police officer behind her.
Her room was small.
Simple.
She opened the closet.
Then stopped.
Her suitcase was already sitting on the bed.
Maya frowned.
“I didn’t put that there.”
The officer looked around.
Maya opened it.
Her clothes had been packed.
Neatly.
Before Noah ever fell into the pool.
And lying on top was a green silk scarf.
May you like
Vanessa’s scarf.
Wrapped around a second screwdriver.
