Chapter 14 - The Photograph
Nora stepped away from the intercom. "She took that picture upstairs."
"How?"
"I don't know."
We checked the hallway camera installed by the building. The manager helped us review the relevant time. Linda had followed another resident through the lobby earlier that afternoon, walked to our floor, photographed Nora's door, and left.
My chest tightened, but my daughter kicked firmly beneath my hand. I held onto that small reassurance while Nora contacted building management and asked them not to let Linda through.
"We should tell Camille," I said.
"Already typing."
At the lawyer's office the next morning, Camille listened without interrupting. We talked through the assault report, the forged-looking medical paperwork, the repeated unwanted contact, and the fact that Linda had come to a home where she knew she wasn't welcome.
"We can ask the court for protective relief," she said. "The decision isn't automatic. We need to be specific about what happened and what we're asking for."
"I don't want revenge," I said. "I want to stop looking over my shoulder."
"That's what your statement should say."
I wrote the facts down that afternoon. I included Mrs. Ellis's description, the clinic's records, the voice message, and the photograph. It took three attempts to get through the sentence about falling at thirty-four weeks pregnant.
Daniel came to Nora's building that evening. He waited outside and texted instead of ringing the buzzer.
I have something to return. I'll leave it with the manager.
The manager brought up a small envelope. Inside was my spare house key and a note in Daniel's handwriting.
I had the locks changed. Mom doesn't have access now. I know that doesn't erase what I did.
I read it twice, wanting to believe it and furious that such an ordinary act had taken a crisis.
May you like
Then Nora's phone rang. She listened, her expression changing.
"Emily," she said, "Linda just showed up at your office. She told your supervisor you're mentally unstable."
