Chapter 8 - The Desperate Scramble
"Police! Open the door!" a booming voice commanded from the front porch.
Derek, groaning on the kitchen floor, looked like a cornered rat.
His eyes darted frantically around the room, searching for a way out.
Despite his injured shoulder, he scrambled to his feet, a wild, dangerous look in his eyes.
"If I'm going down, I'm taking this evidence with me!" he screamed, lunging at me again.
He grabbed my wrist, his fingers digging into my skin like steel talons.
I gasped in pain, but I refused to let go of the phone.
The recording on that device was the only thing standing between my daughter's freedom and financial ruin.
"Derek, stop!" Chloe screamed, grabbing him from behind and trying to pull him off me.
He threw his head back, catching Chloe square in the nose.
She stumbled backward, blood instantly pouring down her face.
Seeing my daughter hurt unlocked a primal rage inside me I didn't know existed.
With my free hand, I reached into my cardigan pocket and pulled out the tube of joint ointment I had brought for Chloe.
It was heavy, made of thick metal, and meant to soothe arthritis.
I drove the metal edge of the tube directly into Derek's temple with all the force I could muster.
He let out a stunned grunt, his grip on my wrist loosening just enough.
I yanked my arm free and kicked him in the knee for good measure.
At that exact moment, the front door crashed open, splintering the door frame.
Three uniformed police officers poured into the house, their weapons drawn.
"Get on the ground! Now!" the lead officer shouted, pointing his flashlight directly at Derek.
Derek raised his hands, blood trickling from his temple, looking utterly pathetic in the harsh light.
"She attacked me! The crazy old woman attacked me!" Derek cried out, trying to play the victim.
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I simply smoothed my cardigan and hit 'save' on the recording app.
"Officer," I said calmly. "I believe you'll want to hear this."
