Chapter 16 - The Midnight Escape
The flashing sirens illuminated the neighborhood for two hours as detectives took statements and photographed the broken entryway.
Daniel sat on the rear bumper of an ambulance, a paramedic wrapping gauze around his ribs while a detective took his formal statement.
Emily stood by the kitchen counter, sipping lukewarm chamomile tea while watching Sophie sleep soundly on the living room sofa under a fleece blanket.
The detective, a weathered veteran named Martinez, walked into the kitchen with a grim expression on his face.
"We have an all-points bulletin out for Victoria Vance and her vehicle," Martinez said, pocketing his notepad.
"Will she try to leave the country?" Emily asked, her hands wrapped tightly around the warm mug.
"She’s grounded at every major airport in the tri-state area," Martinez assured her. "And the federal prosecutor accepted Daniel's documents."
"Does that mean Evelyn is staying behind bars?"
Martinez took off his cap and scratched his head, his eyes darkening with unease.
"About that, Mrs. Vance..."
Emily set her mug down with a sharp click against the granite. "What happened?"
"Ten minutes ago, we received an emergency notification from the county detention center."
Emily felt the room turn freezing cold. "Tell me."
"Evelyn collapsed during her prisoner intake transfer," Martinez said cautiously. "Severe cardiac distress."
"She faked it," Emily stated flatly. "She's a sociopath who will do anything to regain control."
"The prison doctor confirmed acute myocardial infarction," Martinez replied. "She was transferred via armed medical transport to Saint Jude Memorial Hospital."
Daniel appeared at the kitchen doorway, leaning against the frame with his torso tightly bandaged.
"Saint Jude?" Daniel asked, his voice sharp with suspicion.
"Yes," Martinez nodded. "It's the primary trauma center with a secured detention wing."
"My family donated five million dollars to build that wing six years ago," Daniel said, horror dawning in his eyes.
Martinez’s radio crackled loudly before the detective could respond.
The dispatcher’s voice came through the speaker, frantic and distorted with static.
*All units, 10-99 at Saint Jude Memorial. Code red in the West Wing. Armed security detail compromised.*
Martinez grabbed his radio instantly. "Dispatch, this is Martinez, clarify 10-99! Which prisoner?"
*Inmate Evelyn Vance,* the radio responded, sending a shockwave through the kitchen.
*Transport officers were incapacitated by unknown gas inside the freight elevator. Inmate is missing. Repeat, Evelyn Vance is in the wind.*
Martinez swore under his breath, drawing his sidearm and sprinting toward the front door.
"Stay inside, lock the doors, do not leave this house under any circumstances!" Martinez shouted as his boots pounded across the porch.
Emily turned to Daniel, whose face had gone completely white beneath his bruises.
"She’s not running away," Daniel whispered, the realization hitting him like a physical blow.
"What do you mean?" Emily demanded, her hands shaking uncontrollably.
"She doesn't care about escaping to Europe without Sophie," Daniel said, his voice hollow with dread.
"If the fortune vests in Sophie’s name in two weeks, and Evelyn is now a wanted fugitive with no access to funds..."
"She has nothing left to lose," Emily finished the thought, cold terror paralyzing her limbs.
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Suddenly, every light in the house flickered twice and died.
Total, suffocating darkness swallowed the room.
