For illustration purposes only
Sabrina stood on the porch.
She looked exhausted.
Dark circles shadowed her eyes, and a fading bruise marked one side of her face.
Two uniformed police officers stood beside her.
Relief washed over me.
“You’re alive.”
Tears filled Sabrina’s eyes as she looked at Ava.
Then she looked at me.
Slowly, she raised one trembling hand.
She pointed straight at my chest.
“That’s the woman.”
One of the officers stepped forward.
“Ms. Margaret?”
“Yes.”
“We’re going to need you to come with us.”
The relief vanished.
I looked from the officers to Sabrina.
“Did you tell them I took your baby?”
Sabrina lowered her eyes.
She didn’t answer.
My stomach dropped.
I held Ava a little tighter as I stepped onto the porch and into the rain.
I followed the officers to a waiting patrol car, my heart pounding so hard I could barely hear the rain.
One question echoed through my mind.
Why had Sabrina pointed at me?
One of the officers opened the back door.
“Ms. Margaret, Ava can stay with Officer Martinez while we talk.”
I hesitated before gently handing the baby over.
Ava reached for her as the officer carried her under an umbrella.
The gesture twisted something inside my chest.
Inside the station, no one placed me in a holding cell.
No one read my rights.
Instead, an older detective led me into a small interview room.
“Please have a seat.”
I remained standing.
“Am I under arrest?”
The detective exchanged a glance with Sabrina.
“No.”
“Then why am I here?”
Sabrina’s lips trembled.
“Because I needed them to find you.”
I frowned.
“You knew exactly where I lived.”
“I know.”
“Then why bring the police?”
“Because I needed them to meet the woman who protected Ava.”
Silence filled the room.
I looked from Sabrina to the detective.
“I still don’t understand.”
The detective folded his hands.
“Ms. Margaret, Sabrina has been assisting us in a criminal investigation. Eleven days ago, she disappeared because the father of her child discovered she was about to testify against him.”
I looked at Sabrina.
“He threatened to take Ava,” Sabrina whispered. “He told me if I talked, neither of us would ever be seen again.”
“So you ran.”
