Mark lifted Clara carefully and set her down on the comfortable foyer couch.
Her hands were still shaking violently from the terrifying near accident.
The marble floor around them was covered in dozens of loose pearls.
Margarethe walked down the curved staircase slowly with a calm look.
Margarethe: What a tragic accident happened to you just now, Clara.
Mark: That was no accident and you know it very well, Margarethe.
Margarethe: She tripped on her long sequin dress because she was careless.
Clara: You pushed me with both hands when I turned around!
Margarethe: You are hysterical right now and you do not know what you mean.
Mark stood up and placed himself between Margarethe and Clara.
He looked closely at his stepmother's sharp posture and cold stance.
Mark: I saw you shove her from the front hallway door, Margarethe.
Margarethe: You were far too distant to see anything clearly, Mark.
Clara: Call our family trust lawyer immediately before she tries to leave.
Margarethe folded her arms tightly across her dark black jacket.
Margarethe: No lawyer in Dallas will listen to your ridiculous wild false stories.
Mark: We will see about that once the police review everything tonight.
Margarethe narrowed her eyes as she looked at her stepson's face.
Margarethe: You have no physical proof of what happened on those stairs.
Clara: Father warned me about your dark greed before he passed away.
Margarethe: Your father was an old man who did not understand business.
Mark pulled out his smartphone to call the local police department.
Margarethe reached out quickly and knocked the phone to the floor.
Mark: Do not touch my phone ever again, Margarethe!
Margarethe: You are destroying this family name over a simple lost step!
Clara pointed toward the high security camera hidden near the ceiling skylight.
Clara: Father installed motion cameras along every balcony hallway last winter.
Margarethe turned pale as she looked up at the tiny black lens.
Margarethe: Those old security cameras have not worked for several years.
Clara: Mark set up the digital recording system on his computer yesterday.
Margarethe took a quick step backward toward the main kitchen hallway.
Mark: You are not going anywhere until the officers arrive here.
Margarethe: I am the mistress of this Dallas house and estate!
Clara: Not anymore after what you tried to do to me tonight.
The loud sound of approaching sirens echoed from the long driveway.
Margarethe's calm composure began to crack into visible fear and panic.
Margarethe: Mark, we can settle this family matter inside the boardroom.
Mark: The time for quiet family deals ended on that balcony edge.
Clara stood up slowly, supported by the arm of the couch.
Clara: Justice for my father begins right now in this room.
Margarethe backed away until her heels hit the back glass doors.
The bright flashing lights of emergency cars illuminated the front driveway walls.