The Prosecutor's Wife: A Mother's Fury

lothes, even now. It had been days, and the sce

ses, a grim drawing of the violence he'd endured. His arm, heavily bandaged, lay a

his voice thin. "Da

pain. "He's very busy, sweetie. Important wor

d, a designer bag slung over her arm. Beside her, Mateo, the boy who had done t

n. It let out a high-pitched squeak, ma

e instinct flared. "Get out," I sn

't be like that. We just came to express our... s

d on his warped balloon. He didn't

tal. If you want to show sympathy, bring your son in here, tie his arms behind his

Mateo closer. "How dare

unching bag? Tell me, Bethany, who else is protecting your preciou

r's presence, took a step forw

fury. I lunged, not at Mateo, but at Bethany's arm

yanking me back. It was a security guard. Bethany, rubbin

arm!" The sudden movement had pulled at his IV line

Officer Miller, looked at me with a detached, almost pitying expression.

Right here, in fro

across my face, breathing hard. Bethany,

on," Bethany wailed, "afte

e security guard's grip. "Your son nearly k

rd both sides." He turned to Bethany, a soft, reassuring tone in h

Leo, who was now clutching his arm, tears st

sion hardening. "Ma'am, we have a report fro

lie! He's been bullied for

wing look passing between them. "Mrs. Hayden," he said, his voice now colder, "I understand this

this is out of line? What about protecting a bully? What ab

down to the station for questioning," Miller sa

e. "He's corrupted you all, hasn't he? My husband! H

Miller's lips. "I don't know what

ing, it stole the air from my lungs. My knees buckled

I heard Miller say,

my back. The cold metal of handcuffs clicked into place. They wer

flecting off the cold metal desk in front of me. I sat there for hours, every minu

d them all. I had built my world around him, around the image of a steadfas

man who loved me, or protected our family. This was a man who protected his own secrets, his own carefully constructed image, at any cost. This was

A cold, hard resolve crystallized in my gut. I would fight. Not for him,