Chapter 7
Back at the hospital, the digital monitors hummed a steady, rhythmic tune that provided Sarah with a fragile anchor to reality. Leo lay quietly in the pediatric ICU bed, his small chest rising and falling beneath a thin white blanket. The IV line taped to the back of his hand pulsed clear saline solution into his veins, slowly flushing the remaining chemical toxins from his system.
Sarah sat in the armchair beside the bed, holding Leo's other hand, her thumb gently tracing his knuckles. Little Lily was resting in the corner on a fold-out cot, sleeping deeply after the traumatic events of the day. The door opened with a soft click, and Officer Vance stepped into the dim room, holding a clipboard against his chest.
"How is he doing, Sarah?" Vance asked quietly, keeping his voice low so as not to disturb the sleeping children.
"The doctors say the toxicology levels are dropping," Sarah replied without looking up, her eyes fixed on her son's pale face. "They think he'll wake up by tomorrow morning, but they want to keep him under observation for at least forty-eight hours to monitor for potential kidney and liver stress. Officer... did they keep her?"
Vance walked over and pulled up a chair, sitting down across from Sarah. "Elena has been formally booked at the county jail. She’s facing multiple felony charges, including second-degree attempted manslaughter, child endangerment, and tampering with evidence. Her confession was recorded, and the digital forensic team pulled enough deleted text messages from her phone to establish a clear pattern of harassment directed at you over the past six months."
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Sarah let out a shaky breath, closing her eyes as the emotional weight shifted into something resembling vindication, though it brought no real comfort. "We used to be close, Vance. When we were kids, she protected me from everything. After our parents passed away, something inside her just warped. She couldn't stand the idea of me having a family, having happiness, while she built her entire identity around work and control. She thought she was untouchable."
"Nobody is untouchable," Vance said firmly, placing a reassuring hand on her arm. "The law is going to take its course, and we have enough ironclad evidence to ensure she won't be walking the streets anytime soon. But right now, your primary focus has to be right here, helping Leo heal from this trauma."
