Maya: Reach for me, baby... just a little further...
Maya kicked hard, pushing through the heavy pressure of the underwater current as her uniform weighed her down. Her shoes slipped against the slick pool floor as she sank to the very bottom beside the heavy stroller. Bubbles escaped her lips as she fought the natural urge to gasp for air. The baby lay swaddled in the seat, tiny arms flailing as the water enveloped the frame.
Maya: I have got you... I am right here...
She unclipped the safety harness with trembling fingers, her vision blurring under the pool water. The harsh glare of the sun filtered down through the ripples above, making everything look hazy. She reached into the stroller, wrapped her arms securely around the swaddled infant, and pulled the child tight against her chest. Kicking off the concrete bottom with all the force she had left, Maya began the long swim back up to the sunlight.
Maya: Up... we have to go up...
Her chest felt like it was going to burst as she kicked through the deep blue water. Every inch felt like a battle against the heavy wet fabric of her dress. Finally, her head broke through the surface of the water, and she gasped wildly for air, coughing out the bitter pool chemical taste.
Maya: Help! Someone call nine-one-one! She is breathing, but she needs help!
The baby began to cry loudly, her tiny chest heaving as she coughed up water. Maya held the swaddled infant high against her shoulder, swimming toward the shallow steps with one arm. But as she wiped the water from her eyes, she looked up at the patio to see Victoria standing right at the edge of the stone deck. Victoria was not rushing down to help her. Instead, she was looking down with a furious glare, her hands resting calmly on her hips.
Victoria: You should have stayed out of it, Maya.
Maya: You pushed her! You pushed your own stepdaughter's baby into the pool!
Victoria: Who do you think anyone is going to believe? A filthy maid or the mistress of this estate?
Maya: She could have drowned! How could you do this to a child?
Victoria: I do what I have to do to protect my husband's estate, Maya. And right now, you are the one standing in the pool with a wet baby.
Maya scrambled up the concrete steps, clutching the wet baby close as her wet uniform dripped onto the marble patio. She tried to run toward the lounge chair near the outdoor fireplace, but heavy footsteps echoed from the glass patio doors. Richard Sterling stepped out onto the deck, his face pale as he saw his wife screaming in apparent agony.
Victoria: Richard! Hurry! Oh my god, hurry!
Richard: Victoria? What is going on out here? What happened to the pool?
Victoria: She threw Emma in! The maid threw her into the deep end! I tried to stop her, but she shoved the stroller right over the edge!
Maya: That is a lie! Mr. Sterling, please listen to me! She pushed the stroller on purpose!
Richard: Shut up! Get your hands off my daughter!
Richard rushed forward across the stone deck, his face twisted in rage as he pulled the crying baby from Maya's arms. Maya stumbled back onto the wet stone, her knees shaking as she tried to catch her breath. Behind Richard, two uniformed police officers rounded the corner of the mansion near the large American flag, their hands resting on their utility belts.
Victoria: Officers! Over here! Arrest her before she tries to hurt my family again!
Officer Miller: Ma'am, step away from the child and lower your voice. Sir, let us handle this.
Maya: Officer, please! Look at the stroller at the bottom of the pool! She pushed it!
Victoria: She is out of her mind, Officer! She snapped because we were going to fire her for stealing from the master bedroom!
Maya: I never stole anything from this house! Check the security cameras!
Victoria: The cameras on the patio are offline for maintenance today, as you well know. You planned this whole thing!
Officer Miller: That is enough out of both of you. Ma'am, turn around and put your hands behind your back right now.
Maya: No! You are arresting the wrong person! Your wife pushed her, Mr. Sterling! She wants the inheritance for herself!
Richard: Take her away! I do not want her anywhere near my estate or my child ever again!
The second police officer grabbed Maya's wet wrists, pulling her hands behind her back as the metal handcuffs clicked tightly around her wrists. Steel cold against her skin, the cuffs dug into her wrists as she was forced toward the side gate. Across the pool deck, Victoria stepped closer to Richard, wrapping her arms around his waist with a soft, sympathetic sigh. But over Richard's shoulder, her eyes met Maya's, and a slow, cruel smirk spread across her face.