David stared at the dark screen of his office computer for a moment.
His heart was pounding fast in his chest as he logged into the security system.
He wanted proof to show the police so Clara could be arrested.
He opened the video library and pulled up the footage from thirty minutes ago.
The video showed the upper hallway clearly from a high angle in the corner.
At three in the afternoon, Clara was walking down the hallway carrying laundry.
Suddenly, a tall man wearing a dark hoodie stepped out from the guest room.
David leaned closer to the monitor, his eyes widening in pure shock.
The intruder grabbed Clara by the arm and shoved her hard against the wall.
Clara struggled against the man, trying to scream out for help.
The intruder hit her across the face, causing the large bruise on her cheek.
David felt a wave of cold horror wash over his entire body.
The intruder was searching through the drawers in the master bedroom quickly.
That was when little Lily had walked out of her bedroom holding her teddy bear.
The intruder noticed the little girl and ran toward her in a panic.
Clara threw herself forward to protect Lily from the strange man.
She tackled the intruder near the edge of the high balcony railing.
During the intense struggle, the intruder pushed Clara hard into the wooden wall.
He grabbed little Lily by the dress to use her as a shield.
Clara lunged forward, fighting with all her strength to pull Lily away from him.
The intruder lost his grip on the child right over the railing edge.
Clara screamed and reached over the rail, barely missing Lily's coat as she fell.
The words Clara yelled were not a taunt at all.
She was screaming at the intruder who was fleeing down the back stairs.
David gasped as he realized the terrible mistake he had made.
Clara had not tried to hurt his daughter at all.
She had taken a punch to the face to save Lily from a criminal.
David slammed his hands down on the desk in deep regret.
He had thrown the woman who saved his child out into the cold night.