Chapter 16 - THE EMPTY WAITING ROOM
In the child waiting room, Claire faced the shaken victim advocate.
Claire's voice broke. "What did she look like?"
"Baseball cap. Sunglasses. Dark hair."
Daniel turned white.
"Vanessa."
Security was already pulling camera feeds.
Officer Ramirez, who had attended the hearing, radioed the courthouse entrance.
Claire's phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
Mia whispered, "Mom?"
Claire nearly collapsed. "Mia! Where are you?"
"I'm outside."
"Outside where?"
"By the parking garage. Vanessa says Dad wants me to come talk."
In the background, Vanessa's voice snapped, "Give me the phone."
Mia screamed.
Claire ran toward the garage.
They reached the second level and heard an engine rev.
A black SUV backed out of a space.
Mia was standing beside it, not inside.
Vanessa had one hand around her wrist.
"MIA!" Claire screamed.
Vanessa pulled the passenger door open. "Get in!"
Mia planted both feet. "No!"
Daniel ran straight toward them.
Vanessa saw him and froze.
"You said you wanted to talk to her," she shouted.
"I never sent you," Daniel yelled back.
Claire reached Mia and pulled her away.
"Stay away from my daughter," Claire said.
Vanessa's eyes burned. "She is not just your daughter."
Daniel stepped between them. "And she is not yours at all."
Police sirens echoed through the garage.
Vanessa jumped into the SUV.
Officer Ramirez's cruiser blocked the exit ramp.
Vanessa slammed the brakes.
She was trapped.
Then Vanessa smiled through the windshield.
She lifted her phone.
And pressed SEND.
Daniel's phone buzzed.
So did Claire's.
A video had just been sent to every parent in the dance academy group chat.
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The title was:
CLAIRE MORGAN ATTACKS WOMAN BACKSTAGE.
