Chapter 5 - THE POLICE AT THE DOOR
At 2:00 PM on Thursday, Daniel and I sat in a private interview room at the 4th Precinct Police Department, across from Detective Rodriguez of the Domestic Violence and Personal Crime Unit.
Detective Rodriguez reviewed the security footage on her tablet, her face growing darker with every second of video playback.
"This is clear-cut Aggravated Assault and Reckless Endangerment, Mr. Vance," Detective Rodriguez said, taking notes on her legal pad. "Given the elevation of the stairs and the force used, she easily could have caused catastrophic injury or death. Do you wish to press formal criminal charges?"
I looked at Daniel. For a fraction of a second, I wondered if he would hesitate—if the old instinct to protect his mother would flicker back to life.
Daniel looked directly at the detective. "Yes. We want full criminal charges pressed. And we want an emergency Civil Protection Order issued today."
Detective Rodriguez nodded efficiently. "I will present this evidence to the magistrate immediately. An arrest warrant will be issued within twenty-four hours."
By 5:30 PM that afternoon, two uniformed police officers and Detective Rodriguez pulled up to Margaret’s suburban home.
Daniel had given us permission to watch the remote exterior camera feed from his phone.
The doorbell camera captured the entire scene: Margaret opened the front door wearing a silk cardigan, expecting perhaps a delivery or a family member coming to comfort her. When she saw two uniformed officers standing on her porch, her face went totally blank.
"Margaret Vance?" Detective Rodriguez asked politely.
"Yes?" Margaret replied nervously, clutching her cardigan. "What is this about?"
"Ma'am, you are under arrest for Aggravated Assault and Domestic Endangerment in connection with the incident involving Emma Vance on Tuesday afternoon."
"What?!" Margaret shrieked, backing away into the foyer. "This is ridiculous! That was a family matter! My son wouldn't do this!"
"You have the right to remain silent," the officer stated calmly, stepping inside, grabbing Margaret’s wrists, and clicking steel handcuffs around her wrists. "Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."
"Daniel!" Margaret screamed toward the empty hallway, tears tearing through her makeup as she was led down her front steps in broad daylight, watched by three neighbors standing on their front lawns. "Daniel! Help me!"
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As the police cruiser drove away with Margaret in the back seat, Daniel closed the camera app on his phone.
He looked at me, taking my hand in his. "It's done, Emma. She can never touch you again."
