Chapter 4 - THE SIRENS APPROACH
Something flickered across Eleanor’s face. For the first time that evening, the supreme arrogance melted away, replaced by a flash of genuine fear.
I reached into my leather handbag resting on the floor and pulled out my phone. Blood from my fingers left a smear across the screen. I unlocked it and dialed three digits.
911.
The speaker connected almost instantly. "Emergency services. What is your location?"
"My husband has just physical assaulted me," I said clearly and loudly enough for every corner of the room to hear. "He struck me in the head with a heavy ceramic plate."
Adrian’s face drained of color instantly. The violent rage evaporated, replaced by frantic panic. "Claire—put that damn phone down!"
"There are approximately twenty adult witnesses in the room," I continued into the mic. "I am bleeding profusely from a head wound. I am dizzy. And I am still trapped inside the residence with the attacker."
I gave the dispatcher the exact address of the Sterling family estate in Napa Valley. "Please send police officers and an ambulance immediately."
Chairs scraped against the floor. Suddenly, the silent room erupted into chaotic motion.
Eleanor rushed around the table, her hands fluttering in panic. "Claire, stop this right now!" she hissed in a frantic whisper. "You are making this sound far worse than it actually was!"
I pulled the phone away from her reaching hands.
"He simply lost his temper!" she pleaded, her aristocratic voice cracking. "It was an accident!"
"Accidents do not involve grabbing a plate, leaning back, and swinging it at someone's skull, Eleanor."
Charles stood up, his face grim. "Claire, we are a respected family. We can handle this privately."
"That is exactly what you were counting on," I spat back.
"You do not want to destroy your marriage over a simple misunderstanding!" Charles growled, his voice darkening into a threat.
"There is nothing to misunderstand. Your son committed felony assault. You watched him do it. And now you are trying to cover it up."
Adrian took three aggressive steps toward me. "Give me the phone, Claire."
I didn't move an inch. On the line, the dispatcher asked if the assailant was approaching me again.
"Yes," I reported calmly. "He is walking toward me right now."
Adrian froze mid-step.
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"Take another step," I whispered to him, "and I will tell them you are attacking me again."
Uncertainty paralyzed him. But before he could make a choice, a loud crash echoed from the side of the room.
