Chapter 1 - The Fall

Emily Carter heard the small gasp before she heard the thud.

She turned toward the staircase just in time to see one-year-old Lily lose her balance.

But Lily had not simply slipped.

Vanessa's burgundy heel was still in the air.

The toddler tumbled down two steps, rolled onto the polished wood floor, and burst into a frightened scream.

"Lily!"

Emily crossed the foyer so fast she nearly fell herself. She dropped to her knees, gathered her daughter into her arms, and checked her face, her arms, her legs.

Lily clung to her cream knit dress and sobbed into her shoulder.

Vanessa stood beside the staircase, one hand resting lightly on the railing as if nothing unusual had happened.

Emily looked up.

"You kicked her."

Vanessa blinked. "Don't be ridiculous."

"I saw you."

"She lost her balance. Babies fall."

Emily rose slowly, keeping Lily pressed against her chest.

"You wicked woman. She's just a baby."

Something changed in Vanessa's face. The polite smile disappeared.

"Careful," she said.

Emily stared at her. "Careful?"

"You live in my family's house. You spend my brother's money. You parade around here like you won something. Don't push me."

"This is Daniel's home. And Lily is his daughter."

Vanessa's jaw tightened.

Then she reached for the large ceramic vase on the console table.

Emily saw the movement and turned sideways, curling herself around Lily.

"Vanessa, don't!"

The vase flew.

At that exact second, the front door opened.

Daniel stepped inside, still smiling, car keys in one hand.

The vase struck the side of his head.

He went down hard.

For half a second, nobody moved.

Then Emily screamed his name.

Lily started crying again.

Vanessa stared at her brother on the floor, a thin line of blood near his temple.

"Oh my God," she whispered.

Emily knelt beside Daniel, still holding Lily with one arm while reaching for his pulse with the other.

"Call 911!"

Vanessa did not move.

"Call them!"

Vanessa slowly took out her phone.

But instead of dialing, she looked straight at Emily.

"You threw it," she said.

Emily froze.

"What?"

Vanessa's voice became calm.

Too calm.

"You threw the vase at me. Daniel walked in. It hit him."

Emily stared at her in disbelief.

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Then Vanessa lifted her phone and finally dialed.

And Emily realized the nightmare had only begun.