Two police cruisers pulled up the long concrete driveway with lights flashing.
Two uniformed officers walked briskly up the front stone steps.
Sarah opened the massive front double doors to welcome the officers inside.
Officer Harris: Ma'am, we received a call regarding child endangerment.
Sarah: Yes, Officer. My name is Sarah Vance, Clara's biological aunt.
Officer Harris: Can you explain what happened here today?
Sarah pointed up to the security camera near the high ceiling.
Sarah: The whole incident was captured on high-definition video recording.
Officer Harris: Where is the stepmother right now?
Sarah: She locked herself in the master bedroom upstairs.
The second officer walked up the marble stairs to knock on the door.
Officer Davis: Police department! Open the door immediately, ma'am!
Inside the room, Victoria was frantically stuffing jewelry into a leather bag.
She opened her safe and pulled out bundles of estate papers.
Victoria: I am calling my legal defense team right now!
Officer Davis: Step away from the door and open it peacefully!
Meanwhile, Sarah pulled out a sealed legal folder from her briefcase.
She showed the official court document to Officer Harris in the foyer.
Sarah: This is the emergency temporary custody order signed by Judge Miller.
Officer Harris: This order gives you full legal guardianship today.
Clara: Does that mean I can stay with Aunt Sarah tonight?
Officer Harris: Yes, little lady. You are completely safe with her.
The master bedroom door unlocked with a quiet metallic click.
Victoria stepped out slowly with her hands raised in the air.
Her eyes were red and filled with deep bitterness and defeat.
Victoria: This entire family is against me from the start!
Officer Davis: You need to come down to the station for questioning, ma'am.
Victoria: I have done nothing wrong under the law!
Officer Davis: We will let the video evidence speak for itself.