Evelyn: "MY SON! MY BABY!"
Evelyn rushed forward across the wet grass, her green off-shoulder silk dress trailing in the mud. Tears streamed down her face as she reached out trembling hands to touch her son while Maya held him firmly in her arms.
Leo: "Mommy... Maya saved me..."
Maya: "HE'S SAFE NOW..."
Julian: "My God... Maya, you went into a burning building for him! You could have died in there!"
Maya: "I couldn't let anything happen to him, Mr. Sterling. I promised I would protect him."
Evelyn: "Give him to me! Give me my son right now!"
Evelyn tried to pull Leo out of Maya's arms, but the little boy wrapped his arms tightly around Maya's neck, hiding his face in her soot-stained collar.
Leo: "No! I want Maya! Stay with Maya!"
Evelyn: "Leo, what are you talking about?! I'm your mother!"
Maya: "It's okay, Leo. You're safe out here. Your mom and dad are right here."
Julian: "Evelyn, let him breathe. He's terrified and in shock. Maya, bring him over to the ambulance."
Two Dallas firefighters in heavy gear hurried across the lawn, directing the nozzle of a large hose toward the blazing entrance terrace[cite: 1]. Paramedics rolled a gurney toward the group, setting down medical kits on the grass.
Paramedic: "Let me check his airway. Did he inhale any smoke?"
Maya: "I wrapped him in a wet blanket before we ran through the hallway, but he was in the nursery for ten minutes."
Paramedic: "Good thinking, young lady. His lungs sound clear. We'll give him oxygen just to be safe."
Julian put his arm around Evelyn, but his eyes stayed fixed on Maya as she gently set Leo onto the stretcher, never letting go of the boy's hand.
Julian: "Maya... how did you know he was in the west wing nursery? Evelyn told me everyone was evacuated twenty minutes ago."
Maya: "Mrs. Sterling locked the west wing doors before the fire started, sir."
Evelyn froze, her sobbing stopping instantly as her face went pale under the flashing red ambulance lights.
Evelyn: "What?! That's ridiculous! Why would I lock the west wing?!"
Maya: "You told me you were locking the wing for the night because of the party caterers. But when the fire alarm sounded, you took the key with you."
Julian: "Evelyn... is this true? Did you lock that door?!"
Evelyn: "Julian, don't listen to this maid! She's confused! The smoke must be messing with her mind!"
Maya: "I am not confused, Mrs. Sterling. I had to smash the lock with a brass fire extinguisher to get to Leo."
Julian: "Evelyn, answer me! Why was our son locked inside a room during a fire?!"
Evelyn: "It was an accident! I was trying to secure the house before we left for the charity gala!"
Leo: "It wasn't an accident, Daddy... Mommy told me to stay in the room and not make a sound, no matter what happened."
Julian stared at his wife, absolute horror creeping into his eyes as the roaring flames reflected in his gaze[cite: 1].
Julian: "You left our son to burn?!"