The arrest

Chapter 14

The Arrest

The moment the apartment door swung open, Judith pushed past Erica without hesitation.

“Where’s my mother?”

Her voice shook with panic and fury.

Erica stumbled backward.

“Judith, wait—”

But Judith wasn't listening.

Every instinct inside her screamed that something terrible had happened.

The apartment felt wrong.

Like a place holding secrets.

Then she heard it.

A weak cough coming from one of the rooms.

Her heart nearly stopped.

She rushed down the hallway.

"Mum!"

The sight that greeted her shattered what little composure she had left.

Her mum lay in a narrow bed by the window.

She looked pale and fragile, far thinner than Judith remembered.

Bruises colored one side of her face.

Tears immediately filled Judith's eyes.

"Mum..."

Mrs. Thompson turned slowly.

The moment she saw her daughter, she began crying.

"Judith."

Judith hurried to the bedside and took her hand.

"Oh God."

The older woman's fingers felt cold.

"What happened to you?"

Before Mrs. Thompson could answer, another voice filled the room.

"Mummy?"

Judith spun around.

Lily stood in the doorway clutching a coloring book, half-hidden behind Erica’s leg.

For one second, nobody moved.

Then Lily pressed herself closer to Erica instead of moving forward.

Judith dropped to her knees, arms open.

"Lily... baby, it’s me. Come here."

Lily shook her head and buried her face in Erica’s side.

"I don’t want you," she said quietly, voice muffled. "I want Mummy Erica."

The words hit Judith like a physical blow.

Her arms fell limply to her sides.

Erica placed a protective hand on Lily’s head, a small satisfied smile flickering across her lips before she masked it.

Judith’s voice cracked.

"Lily... I’m your mummy. I’ve come back for you."

Lily peeked out, eyes wet but defiant.

"Mummy Erica takes care of me. You left me."

Judith felt her world had shattered.

"No, sweetheart, I didn’t leave you. I was trying to—"

"I don’t care," Lily interrupted, gripping Erica’s shirt tighter. "Go away."

Dan watched the painful scene from the doorway, his expression troubled.

Judith slowly rose to her feet, the warmth she had imagined for this reunion turning to ash.

The anger that replaced it was directed squarely at Erica.

"What did you do to her?"

Erica folded her arms defensively.

"Nothing. I’ve been the one here for her."

"Nothing?"

"You have to listen to me."

Judith laughed bitterly.

"Listen to you?"

"I've been taking care of everyone."

Dan frowned.

"Taking care of them?"

"Yes."

Erica pointed toward Mrs. Thompson

"She had an accident."

Mrs. Thompson suddenly spoke.Weakly.

"Don't lie."

The room fell silent.

Erica froze.

Judith immediately turned toward her mother.

"Mum?"

Mrs. Thompson’s eyes filled with tears.

"She pushed me."

A stunned silence followed.

Judith stared.

"What?"

Mrs. Thompson swallowed painfully.

"She pushed me."

Erica was confused on what to do to her.

"She's confused."

Mrs. Thompson shook her head.

"No."

The older woman gathered her remaining strength.

"I heard every word."

Judith gripped the bedrail.

"What word?".

Her mum looked directly at Erica.

"She admitted it."

The room became deadly quiet.

"She said she was tired of me."

Judith's hands began shaking.

"Tell me she's lying."

Mrs. Thompson's voice broke.

"She said she pushed me because I kept asking questions."

Lily looked back and forth between the adults, still clinging tightly to Erica

Dan moved closer to Judith.

As if preparing to stop her from attacking Erica.

Because the rage on her face was terrifying.

"After everything?" Judith whispered.

Erica backed away.

"Judith—"

"After everything we did for you?"

"Listen to me."

"You lived with us."

"Please—"

"My mother treated you like family."

Erica's eyes widened.

"You're not understanding."

Judith took a step forward.

"No."

Another step.

"You don't understand."

Erica continued backing away.

"She's lying."

"Mum would never lie about this."

"She's old."

"Stop talking."

Erica glanced toward the front door.

For the first time she looked afraid.

Real fear.

Judith pulled out her phone.

Erica's eyes widened.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm calling the police."

"No."

"Yes."

"You can't."

"I already have."

Within minutes officers arrived.

The apartment became crowded.

Statements were taken.

Questions were asked.

Mrs. Thompson repeated her accusation.

Dan confirmed the suspicious circumstances.

Even Lily quietly admitted hearing Erica shouting at her grandmother several times, though she stayed glued to Erica’s side the entire time.

The officers exchanged looks.

One of them approached Erica.

"We're taking you in for questioning."

"What?"

"Please put your hands behind your back."

Panic flooded Erica's face.

"This is ridiculous."

The officer remained calm.

"Ma'am."

"I didn't do anything."

The handcuffs clicked around her wrists.

"I didn't do anything wrong!"

Her voice echoed through the apartment.

Lily began crying loudly, reaching for Erica.

"Mummy Erica! Don’t take my mummy!"

The sight broke Judith all over again.

She tried to approach Lily, but the little girl turned away, sobbing harder.

Judith stood frozen, rejected by her own daughter.

"It's okay, Lily," she whispered, voice hollow.

"No, it's not!" Erica screamed.

"She's setting me up!"

The officers guided her toward the door.

"You'll regret this, Judith!"

Judith didn't answer.

She simply stared at Lily, who was still crying for the woman being arrested.

The apartment door slammed shut.

And Erica was gone.

Several hours later, Mrs. Thompson was transferred to a better hospital.

Dan personally helped arrange everything.

As doctors prepared her room, Judith sat beside her mother's bed.

Lily slept in a chair nearby, but even in sleep she had turned away from Judith, curled into herself.

"I'm sorry," Mrs. Thompson whispered.

Judith squeezed her hand.

"You have nothing to apologize for."

"I should have told you sooner."

"You were scared."

Mrs. Thompson nodded.

"She threatened me... and she turned Lily against you."

Judith felt another wave of anger.

But she pushed it down.

Right now her mother needed comfort.

Not revenge.

"We're together now."

A tear slid down Mrs. Thompson's cheek.

"Thank you for coming."

Judith kissed her forehead.

"Always."

At the police station, Erica sat in a holding room.

Her confidence had completely disappeared.

The reality of her situation was finally sinking in.

The door opened.

An officer entered.

"You have one phone call."

Relief flashed across her face.

Immediately she reached for the phone.

There was only one person she could call.

One person powerful enough to help

Mr. Blackwood.

Less than an hour later, Richard Blackwood arrived at the station.

That evening, Judith finally returned to the apartment with Lily.

The child refused to leave Erica’s memory, even now.

She stayed quiet and distant from Judith the entire time — while eating dinner, while watching television, while getting ready for bed.

As Judith tried to tuck her beneath the blankets, Lily turned her face away.

"Mama Erica was better," she whispered.

Judith felt her chest tighten painfully.

She pulled Lily into her arms anyway, holding her despite the resistance.

"Never believe what she told you about me."

Lily didn’t respond.

But Judith kissed her forehead anyway.

"I will always come back for you... even if you don’t want me right now."

Lily eventually drifted to sleep.

But Judith remained awake.

Staring out the window.

Erica had been arrested.

But the damage she had done to Lily was serious.

Outside the apartment building, a black luxury car sat parked beneath the shadows.