The bright morning sun shone directly over the grand marble staircase of the city courthouse. Sarah carefully carried a heavy manila folder packed with financial documents. She was seven months pregnant and moving slowly down the polished steps. Her husband, Mark Vance, was standing near the entrance speaking with his divorce lawyer about his stepmother's latest lawsuit. Victoria Vance, his late father's second wife, wanted full control of the family real estate trust fund. She wanted Sarah and Mark left with nothing.
Sarah adjusted her beige dress as she took another step downward. The wind rustled the paper documents inside her open folder. Suddenly, a pair of red high heels clicked quickly on the stone behind her. Before Sarah could turn around to look, a harsh shove caught her right between her shoulder blades. Sarah gasped loudly as her feet slipped out from under her. The documents flew into the air like white birds scattering against the blue sky.
Mark heard his wife's terrified scream from thirty feet away. His heart dropped into his stomach as he saw Sarah losing her balance on the steep marble steps. Without thinking, Mark sprinted down the staircase as fast as his polished dress shoes could carry him. His dark tux jacket flapped behind him in the heavy wind. He leaped over the lower three steps and slid across the flat stone landing.
Mark caught Sarah in his arms just milliseconds before her head hit the hard stone floor. The impact knocked the wind out of him, but he held her tightly against his chest. White papers fluttered down around them like cold snow. Sarah clutched Mark's lapel with shaking fingers, tears streaming down her pale cheeks. She was whimpering, clutching her stomach with her free hand while gasping for breath.
Sarah: Please... protect my baby!
Mark: I've got you, sweetheart. You're safe. I'm right here.
Mark cradled Sarah close to his heart, making sure she was completely protected from the hard ground. His knuckles turned white as he held her tight. He raised his eyes slowly toward the top of the marble staircase. Standing near the massive brass doors was Victoria Vance, wearing a striking red dress. Victoria had her hands clasped over her mouth, but her eyes held no real remorse. She looked panicked only because dozens of lawyers and security guards were now staring directly at her.
Mark: You just made the biggest mistake of your life!
Victoria: Mark, it was an accident! She tripped on her own dress!
Mark: I saw what you did! You shoved her because of the inheritance papers!
The security officers at the courthouse front entrance immediately moved toward Victoria. Mark lifted Sarah gently into his arms, careful not to put any pressure on her lower back. He could feel her body trembling violently against his chest. His father's sudden passing six months ago had unleashed a bitter battle for the estate, but Mark never imagined Victoria would resort to physical violence against his pregnant wife. The legal fight over the family wealth had just turned into a dangerous crime scene.